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Philippians 4:12

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Philippians 4:12

Verse 12 of 23

Scripture focus

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Philippians 4:12 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Philippians 4:12

Theological / Devotional

Abased. Or, “brought low,” “humbled.” Paul is speaking of physical needs, not spiritual deficiencies.

How to abound. Paul’s disposition was so stabilized that he was unaffected by the ebb and flow of circumstances.

Every where. Literally, “in everything,” that is, under all possible circumstances.

Instructed. Gr. mueo, “to initiate into the mysteries,” that is, to instruct a person in the secret rites of the so-called mystery religions (see Vol. VI, p. 91). The word may be translated “to learn the secret of” (RSV).

To be full. Gr. chortazo, “to feed,” used of fattening animals, but also used of satisfying man’s hunger.

Hungry. See on 2 Cor. 11:27.

To suffer need. Gr. husterema, “to lack” (see on Rom. 3:23).

By SdaBc