by Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
But, can we genuinely “do all things?” Can we jump off the rooftop and fly? Can we literally do all things? No! This verse is certainly a lovely verse and one a person can go to for a reminder of strength through our Lord. But, what really are the “things” talked about that we can do?
First, as I have been taught, never take one verse all on its own. We must read other verses around it to see just what a verse legitimately means. We wouldn’t open a novel and take out one paragraph and try to explain the meaning of the whole novel from one paragraph? So, why do people take one verse and try to give an explanation through reading only one verse? Many false doctrines and religions are in existence today because of people taking one verse out of context. They didn’t read the verses or chapters around the verse to get the whole, complete meaning of the verse.
Second, when one is reading a verse, one must know who the verse is written to. Is it written to believers or non-believers? Like a book written for teenage girls, would it benefit a boy? No! So one needs to know if the verse being read is to believers or unbelievers. That will also tell much about the context of the verse one is trying to understand. These two things can really help with the understanding of a verse.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
Now, let’s find out what are some of the “things” we can do through Christ.
First, Philippians chapter 4 is written to believers. It says “my brethren” in 4:1 and 1:1 it says “to all the saints.” Paul is talking to fellow believers. So chapter 4 would not apply to unbelievers. As one reads the list of things below of things we can do, it will quickly become obvious why Philippians 4:13 is to believers.
Philippians 4:1 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”
Second, Paul mentions several things in Philippians chapter 4, prior to verse 13. These are the things we can do with the Lord’s strength. I’m sure there are things in chapters 1-3 also, but let’s focus on some of the “things” we can do as believers that Paul mentions in chapter 4.
4:1 We can “stand fast in the Lord.” We can keep on serving the Lord because he will give us the strength to hang on and not quit. 4:1 “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.”
4:2 We can be of the same mind as the Lord. We can think what he wants us to think. As believers we can get along with each other, if we are thinking with the mind of the Lord. 4:2 “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.”
4:3 We can help fellow women who are serving the Lord. 4:3 “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
4:4 We can always be rejoicing in the Lord. Yes, we all have difficult situations in life, but we can still rejoice in the Lord because of our eternal salvation. 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
4:5 We can be calm before all men. In this verse, Webster’s 1828 defines “moderation” as calmness. Yes, some situations are difficult, but with God we can be calm in dealing with all people. 4:5 “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”
4.6 We can “be careful for nothing” which means be anxious or troubled for nothing. Also, the end of this verse tells us to be thankful and to let our requests be made known to God. He wants to hear from us! We are never alone. He is always there. 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
4.7 We can always have the “peace of God” within us. When the world seems to be falling apart around us, we can have peace within. 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
4:8 We can keep our minds thinking on true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praising things. 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
4:9 We can “do” the things we have learned about and read about in the Bible. We can be successful for the Lord. 4:9 “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”
4:10 We can rejoice! Even when the storms of life are beating upon us, we can rejoice in our Saviour and our eternal salvation. 4:10 “But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.”
4:11 We can “be content” always in whatsoever state the Lord has us in – we can be content! 4:1
1 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”
4:12 We can be “abased” – humbled; we can “abound” have plenty. 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.”
Prayerfully, the list above encourages us in some of the things we can “do” through Christ. Now, back to the verse that we love:
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
