Philippians 4:13 (“I can do all things through him who strengthens me”) is one of the most misinsterpreted verses in the Bible. I used to misquote it. I can’t remember the last time I heard it used correctly. It is one of the top 10 searched verses on biblestudytools.com, along with another frequently abused verse, Jeremiah 29:11.
I enjoy the Pyromaniacs blog and agreed with the basic premise of Self-esteem, Possibility Thinking, and Philippians 4:13 .
That verse is not a manifesto for self-esteem and possibility thinking although it is often used that way. People quote the verse as if it meant “With Jesus’ help you can achieve whatever dream you have for yourself.” That’s not the idea at all. Paul is speaking as a man who wants to do the will of God and knows he is too weak and sinful to do it, but he is laying hold of Christ’s power to do in him what he knows he cannot do on his own.
I agreed with the first part but not as much with the last part. Yes, people misuse the verse to mean that they can accomplish all sorts of things through Jesus. It is technically true that we could accomplish great things with Jesus, of course, but that isn’t what Philippians 4:13 means. The verse refers to Christ’s power doing something very specific in the believer, not some sort of general power.
I love using Phil 4:13 as an example of how to read in context. You don’t need to read the entire Bible, or all of Philippians, or chapter 4 or even a paragraph to get the real meaning. Just go back one verse!
Philippians 4:12-13 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.
Verse 13 is Paul’s secret for being content in all situations. That’s it. Do every thing through Jesus and you can be content in everything. It isn’t about what you accomplish, it is about how you do whatever you do.
I would never actually say this to someone because it would come across too snarky, but when people quote Philippians 4:13 I’m tempted to ask, “Really? You can do all things through Christ? Does that include reading scripture in context?”
Instead, I say something like, “Oh, yes, Paul’s secret for being content in all situations. I love that verse.” I get a slightly puzzled look in return, but I hope they re-read it themselves and see what I meant.
Some people may think they’ve lost something special when they realize they’ve misinterpreted the verse. But did they really think that Jesus was going to help them win every race, get every job, get A’s on every test, leap tall buildings, etc.?
Being content sounds bland compared to our worldly desires, but what a phenomenal blessing the real interpretation of Philippians 4:13 is! How wonderful would it be to have contentment in every situation in life? That’s the true promise of scripture that we seek and rejoice in.
As often happens, the real meaning of the verse is better than what we wanted it to mean.
Excellent rendering of the text. We’ve completely twisted his intention. If he meant what we’ve subscribed to, every sproting event would end in a tie. Thanks and God bless.
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O! Just when I gave in to using that verse in a cliche sort of way… well, back to finding a new cliche.
Reminds me of a child holding his fathers hand saying ‘we can do anything, right dad!” It may lack humility, but in a strangely familiar way, makes me want to take hold of the hand that I, as a child, so willingly and innocently clung to.
That verse is pretty much the basis of the false preacher’s theology. I’ve heard these “name and claim it” preachers say things like “If you have faith, you can speak to your wallet and it will be filled with money”. It goes along with Psalms 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Since God knows our own hearts better than we do ourselves, I believe that means He will give you what your heart desires, which is not necessarily the same thing our brains desire.
I love Psalm 37:4. If we really delight in God then we will have the right desires.
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God HAS provided money when it was needed you should read the book The Cross And The Switchblade to see how God provided money for David Wilkerson when he most needed it.The charlatons and false preachers who infest American Tv is not provided wealth by God but by His adversary..you know who.. and quite a few have been sent to prison for their fraud.
I tell my high school youth group boys, “Do you think you need strength to get an A on a test? C’mon. Non-Christians get As on tests everyday. You need Jesus for a lot more than an A.”
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Id be interested to know how you would interpret Christs teaching on the Sermon On The Mount….or His if you have faith is as grain of mustard seed parable.There have been those who have done things for God beyond their wildest imaginations because of their FAITH.Do we limit God’s power through His Holy Spirit in what a man or woman can do if they have such faith.To actually believe that 2000 years ago a tortured man who was crucified on a Roman cross was actually the Son Of God takes incredible faith especially in this so-called enlightened world of scientific thinking.And the many thousands who have died because of their belief in such a God…The verse “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” means just that.. the emphasis is THROUGH HIM …I can..through Him…who strengthens me.Its all because of Christ and the faith we have in Him that a man or woman can do such things…where exactly is the problem here?
Hi Frankie — I agree that God can do amazing miracles. The question, though, is, “What does Phil 4:13 mean?” If you took that verse out of the Bible would that mean God couldn’t do miracles?
My point from the post is simple: Phil 4:13 means what it means in context of the surrounding verses. And the previous verse sets up what it means, by noting that Paul has a secret of being content. And the secret is to do everything through Jesus.
The problem is when we use the verse as a back up or a cloke to hide our egoistic man centred pursuits, made to appear like they are automatically backed, sanctioned or rubber stamped by God..!
How about Malachi 3:10? Pastors love this one. They use it as a club to guilt the flock into giving more money to the church.
Yes, Malachi 3:10 is in my lesson of frequently taken out of context verses (as if pastors read the rest of Malachi and apply it to their congregations in today’s terms).