I can do all things through a verse taken out of context

ἰσχύω πάντα ἐν χριστῷ τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με

ischyō panta en Christos tō endynamounti me

What's that?? That's one of the most-quoted verses in the Bible, Philippians 4:13, as it was written. A popular English translation has adorned many T-shirts, coffee mugs and memes.

Here’s Young’s Literal Translation: “For all things I have strength, in Christ’s strengthening me.”

That's not quite the phrase we're familiar with. It doesn't have the active verb "do." Ischyō describes a state of ability, of possessing a characteristic.

That definition seems to fit better with the rest of the passage. We have strength in, or for, "all things." What things? We don't fill in the blank; Paul tells us:

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (vv. 11-12)

Because of Christ, we have the strength to be content in plenty and hunger, in abundance and need.

Notice it gives equal weight to abundance on one hand, and hunger and need on the other. Paul was saying it makes no difference to him; he was content in any circumstances because He had Christ.

Contentment

How different from the modern prosperity mindset! How often do you hear a message about contentment? You’d think that was a dirty word in some churches. No wonder it takes strength!

We should hear it more, because that’s far from everything the Bible has to say about contentment.

There’s 1 Timothy 6, which is kryptonite to the prosperity “gospel.” Paul, same author, wrote: “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” (1 Timothy 6:6-8).

Many Christians are familiar with Hebrews 13:5 — or at least the second half of it: “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Some know that it literally says, I will not, I will not, I will not leave you nor forsake you. But how many know the first half, which gives us the context for that?

“Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” That well-known verse is about contentment.

What Philippians 4:13 really means

When we hear Philippians 4:13, it’s usually in the context of ambition and achievement, of doing great things (sometimes athletic). It’s an expression of discontent, of saying we want life to be different than it is now.

Therefore, it’s not only ripping the verse kicking and screaming out of its context, it’s conveying the opposite of Paul’s point.

Compare Philippians 4:13 with what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:24-28 — “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.”

In that light, here’s what Paul was saying to the Philippians:

I can be beaten through Christ who strengthens me.

I can be scourged through Christ who strengthens me.

I can be imprisoned through Christ who strengthens me.

I can be shipwrecked through Christ who strengthens me.

I can be cold and sleepless through Christ who strengthens me.

I can be hungry through Christ who strengthens me.

I can suffer through Christ who strengthens me.

But what about the good parts, the plenty and abundance? They give us another angle to consider: We need Christ's strength to handle abundance, to resist the temptation to trust in it and lust for it, and to be wise and selfless in stewardship.

That's what the verse means. It's not about achieving great things, as we think of them. It's certainly not about doing anything we want.

It's about enduring anything in content faith, which is greater than any achievement we can do.