Philippians 4:12

to be abased "To be low," in resources and comforts. The word is used in classical Greek of a river running low.

to abound as now, in the plenty the Philippians had provided. This experience, as well as the opposite, called for the skill of grace.

every where and in all things Lit., in everything and in all things; in the details and total of experience.

I am instructed I have been initiated; "I have learned the secret" (R.V.). The Greek verb is akin to the words, mystês, mystêrion, and means to initiate a candidate into the hidden tenets and worship of the "Mysteries"; systems of religion in the Hellenic world derived perhaps from prehistoric times, and jealously guarded by their votaries. Admission to their arcana, as into Freemasonry now, was sought even by the most cultured; with the special hope, apparently, of a peculiar immunity from evil in this life and the next. See Smith's Dict. of Greek and Roman Antiquities. It is evident that St Paul's adoption of such a word for the discovery of the "open secrets" of the Gospel is beautifully suggestive. Lightfoot remarks that we have the same sort of adoption in his frequent use (and our Lord's, Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Luke 8:10; and see Revelation 1:20; Revelation 10:7; Revelation 17:5; Revelation 17:7) of the word "mystery" for a revealed secret of doctrine or prophecy.

to be full R.V., to be filled. The Greek verb is the same as e.g. Matthew 5:6; Matthew 14:20. St Paul uses it only here. Its first meaning was "to give fodder to cattle," but it lost this lower reference in later Greek (Lightfoot).

hungry No doubt often in stern reality. Cp. 1 Corinthians 4:11.