Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.

This passage brings the thanks of Paul for the material help which the Philippian congregation had sent to Rome with Epaphroditus. It was this gift which occasioned the letter, which caused the apostle to write: I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because now at the last your thinking of me has bloomed forth again; upon which you also had thought, but the occasion was lacking. Paul's joy is so great because their anxious care for him had again blossomed forth into activity, had once more given evidence of its continued existence. Their care and anxiety for him, as upon previous occasions, had once more assumed tangible form. They had made it a point before to share with him, but recently circumstances had prevented their remembering the imprisoned apostle, the persecution which they were suffering being the chief factor. Therefore Paul rejoices all the more that they have now succeeded. He praises both their good will and the deed in which it resulted. He rejoices in the Lord, because He it was that had put such cheerful and eager willingness into the hearts of the Philippians.

At the same time Paul forestalls a misunderstanding: Not that I speak concerning want; for I have learned to be content with the things I have. I know as well to be abased as I know to have plenty; everywhere and in all things I have become accustomed both to have abundance and to suffer want. That represents the sum of Paul's experiences up to the time of his writing this letter. He had never suffered actual want. He had enough to eat and to live, but on account of his imprisonment he was without many comforts. And so he has reasons to be thankful and joyful, since this need is now supplied. For he had learned to be satisfied with what he had, to accommodate himself to every situation. He had been instructed, he had learned the lesson both to be brought low, to put up with the misery of poverty, and to have plenty, to be well supplied with the goods of this world, to be in a lowly as well as in an exalted position. He has become accustomed to that by long practice and usage. Whether he has all that he needs and more, or whether he suffers hunger, the prospect leaves him unscathed, because he has experienced all.

The reason why he can rise above all the exigencies of life is: I can do all things in Him who strengthens me. That is the confidence of faith, a faith which is victorious over all the possibilities of misery and affliction, by which we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us, Romans 8:37. Paul is strong in all, able to stand all, not in his own power and ability, however, but in and through Christ, his exalted Lord, who makes him strong, who transmits to him some of His own strength. In this strength he can be daring, he can meet the onslaughts of his enemies, he can overcome all their temptations. That is the attitude of every Christian: he is satisfied with whatever God sends and gives him. Every Christian learns this art, becomes proficient in this ability, because Christ strengthens him.