Philippians 4:12-13
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Paul uses the word "initiated," usually reserved for secret religious rites, to describe his learned ability to navigate both extreme want and overflowing abundance. This wasn't just knowing about these states, but being deeply familiar with the inner posture required to remain content and steadfast in Christ, regardless of outward circumstances.
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. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is responding to the Philippian church, expressing his deep joy that they have once again sent him support. He reassures them that he is content no matter his circumstances, and that their kindness was not unneeded but rather a welcome relief after a period of hardship. He explains that he has learned a profound secret of contentment, a lesson cultivated through all his experiences, both difficult and abundant, and he attributes this mastery not to himself but to the power of Christ.
Paul wasn't just surviving; he was thriving, no matter his circumstances. What's his secret to handling both the feast and the famine?
Paul declares he knows 'how to be brought low' and 'how to abound.' This isn't just about enduring hardship or enjoying success; it's about possessing the skill, the know-how, to navigate both.
The Two Sides of the Coin:
Paul's mastery wasn't accidental. He learned to adapt his inner state to his outer circumstances, refusing to let either extreme define his joy or his faith.
Paul uses a unique word to describe his learned contentment. What does it mean to be 'initiated' into something so profound?
Paul reveals the depth of his learned contentment by stating, 'I have learned the secret.' The Greek word here, memuemai, is rich with meaning. It comes from the language used for being initiated into the ancient mystery religions.
The Mystery Revealed:
Ask a follow-up
Many people's happiness rises and falls with their bank account or their comfort level. Paul’s is different. Why?
Paul’s ability to be content in any situation is striking because it transcends external factors. He’s not saying he likes hunger or need, but that he has learned to maintain an inner equilibrium that isn't dictated by his physical condition.
The Source of Stability:
Understand the original words
tapeinousthai · Greek Verb
To be brought low or humbled, often referring to a state of being brought down from a position of prosperity or status to one of poverty or difficulty. In a Christian context, it relates to the trials that test faith.
perisseuein · Greek Verb
To have more than enough or to overflow; it is used here to describe a state of material or situational prosperity. It signifies an abundance that exceeds immediate requirements.
mystērion · Greek Noun
The Greek word 'mystērion' refers to a truth hidden in God's eternal plan but now revealed to His people. It is a spiritual secret or truth that is not discernable by human wisdom but is known through revelation.
endynamounti · Greek Verb
The act of being physically strengthened or empowered. In the New Testament, it refers to the divine infusion of power (dynamis) by the Holy Spirit or Christ that enables the believer to live for God and endure trials.
Paul's ability to 'be content in any and every circumstance' wasn't theoretical; it was forged through a lifetime of radical ups and downs, from missionary perils to Roman imprisonment, all while relying on Christ's strength.
c. AD 30-33
Paul's Conversion and Early Ministry
Following his dramatic conversion, Paul begins his missionary journeys, facing numerous hardships, persecutions, and times of extreme poverty, alongside periods of surprising provision.
c. AD 49-51
Council of Jerusalem and Apostolic Decree
Paul and Barnabas travel to Jerusalem to consult with the apostles and elders regarding the inclusion of Gentiles in the church, a period that solidified church practice and Paul's understanding of his mission.
c. AD 53-56
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During his extended stay in Ephesus, Paul faces significant opposition and challenges, yet also experiences periods of success and receives substantial support from churches like Philippi.
c. AD 60-62— this verse
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
While under house arrest in Rome, Paul writes letters to various churches, including Philippians, reflecting on his experiences and offering encouragement. The Philippian believers send Epaphroditus with a generous gift to support him during this time.
This passage details Paul's extensive suffering and hardship, offering a powerful, experiential parallel to his 'knowing how to be brought low' and 'suffer need'.
Matthew 6:25-34Jesus' teaching on not worrying about physical needs like food and clothing highlights the spiritual principle behind Paul's contentment, which is to seek God's kingdom first.
1 Timothy 6:6-10This passage directly addresses the dangers of loving money and the contentment that comes from godliness with sufficiency, echoing Paul's learned secret of satisfaction in any circumstance.
Proverbs 30:7-9Agur's prayer for neither extreme poverty nor wealth, asking only for daily sustenance, reflects a similar learned wisdom about navigating need and sufficiency with a balanced heart.
Romans 8:38-39This declaration of God's unshakeable love, which cannot separate believers from Him, provides the theological foundation for Paul's unwavering contentment, regardless of external circumstances.
barnesPhilippians 4:12: "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."
I know both how to be abased - To be in circumstances of want. And I know how to abound - To have an abundance. lie had been in circumstances where he had an ample supply for all his needs, and knew what it was to have enough. It requires as much grace to keep the heart right in prosperity, as it does in ad…
gillPhilippians 4:12: "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."
I know both how to be abased,.... Or "humbled"; to be treated with indignity and contempt, to be trampled upon by man, to suffer hardships and distress, to be in a very mean and low condition, to work with his own hands, and minister to his own and the necessities of others in that way; yea, to be in hunger…
Paul uses the word "initiated," usually reserved for secret religious rites, to describe his learned ability to navigate both extreme want and overflowing abundance. This wasn't just knowing about these states, but being deeply familiar with the inner posture required to remain content and steadfast in Christ, regardless of outward circumstances.
Paul is responding to the Philippian church, expressing his deep joy that they have once again sent him support. He reassures them that he is content no matter his circumstances, and that their kindness was not unneeded but rather a welcome relief after a period of hardship. He explains that he has learned a profound secret of contentment, a lesson cultivated through all his experiences, both difficult and abundant, and he attributes this mastery not to himself but to the power of Christ.
Paul is responding to the Philippian church, expressing his deep joy that they have once again sent him support. He reassures them that he is content no matter his circumstances, and that their kindness was not unneeded but rather a welcome relief after a period of hardship. He explains that he has learned a profound secret of contentment, a lesson cultivated through all his experiences, both difficult and abundant, and he attributes this mastery not to himself but to the power of Christ.
"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. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." — Paul uses the word "initiated," usually reserved for secret religious rites, to describe his learned ability to navigate both extreme want and overflowing abundance. This wasn't just knowing about…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
