Philippians 4:11

The form of Philippians 4:11-13, from ἐγὼ γάρ, is strophic. ἐγὼ … εἶναι gives the “theme”. Philippians 4:13 marks the close. The thought is worked out between. See J. Weiss, Beitr., p. 29. οὐχ ὅτι. See on chap. Philippians 3:12 supr. καθʼ ὑστέρησιν. “As regards want.” κατὰ has the same sense as in the phrase τὰ κατʼ ἐμέ. ἐγώ emphasises his own position in a tone of calm independence of circumstances. ἐν οἷς εἰμί. Taken by itself, the phrase might well mean, “in my present circumstances”. But in view of the following verses it seems better to make it general = “in the circumstances in which I am placed at any moment”. For exx. of the phrase see Kypke and Wetst. ad loc. ἔμαθον must be translated into English as a perfect, “I have learned”. But the Greek has a true aorist force: it sums up his experiences to the moment of writing and regards them as a whole. αὐτάρκης is admirably illustrated by Plat., Repub., 369 B, οὐκ αὐτάρκης, ἀλλὰ πολλῶν ἐνδεής. “Dr. Johnson talked with approbation of one who had attained to the state of the philosophical wise man, that is, to have no want of anything. ‘Then, sir,' said I, ‘the savage is a wise man.' ‘Sir,' said he, ‘I do not mean simply being without, but not having a want' ” (Boswell's Johnson, p. 351, Globe ed.).