Philippians Chapter 4, Verse 12
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12: οιδα δε και ταπεινουσθαι οιδα και περισσευειν εν παντι και εν πασιν μεμυημαι και χορταζεσθαι και πειναν και περισσευειν και υστερεισθαι
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.
12: I know both how to be brought low, 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. He had been in circumstances where he had an ample supply for all his wants, and knew what it was to have enough. It requires as much grace to keep the heart right in prosperity as it does in adversity, and perhaps more. Adversity, of itself, does something to keep the mind in a right state; prosperity does nothing.
Every where and in all things. In all my travels and imprisonments, and in reference to everything that occurs, I learn important lessons on these points.
I am instructed. The word here used memuhmai -- is one that is commonly used in relation to mysteries, and denoted being instructed in the secret doctrines that were taught in the ancient "mysteries." Passow. In those mysteries, it was only the "initiated" who were made acquainted with the lessons that were taught there. Paul says that he had been initiated into the lessons taught by trials and by prosperity. The secret and important lessons which these schools of adversity are fitted to teach he had had an ample opportunity of learning; and he had faithfully embraced the doctrines thus taught.
Both to be full. That is, he had learned to have an ample supply of his wants, and yet to observe the laws of temperance and soberness, and to cherish gratitude for the mercies which he had enjoyed.
And to be hungry. That is, to be in circumstances of want, and yet not to murmur or complain. He had learned to bear all this without discontent. This was then, as it is now, no easy lesson to learn; and it is not improper to suppose that, when Paul says that he had "been instructed" in this, even he means to say that it was only by degrees that he had acquired it. It is a lesson which we slowly learn, not to murmur at the allotments of Providence; not to be envious at the prosperity of others; not to repine when our comforts are removed. There may be another idea suggested here. The condition of Paul was not always the same. He passed through great reveries. At one time he had abundance; then he was reduced to want; now he was in a state which might be regarded as affluent; then he was brought down to extreme poverty. Yesterday, he was poor and hungry; today, all his necessities are supplied. Now, it is in these sudden reverses that grace is most needed, and in these rapid changes of life that it is most difficult to learn the lessons of calm contentment.
- "need" "want"
