Even though he appreciates the gift from his friends, Paul would like to make clear his attitude of independence and contentment. He does not deny that he was in need, but the supply of his need is not the motive of his joy. His statement is introduced by an elliptical expression, “not that … I say,” indicating that he does not want his readers to draw a wrong conclusion. One can render this expression explicitly as and I am not saying this because (Barclay “don’t think that I am saying this because”).

I feel neglected is literally “according to want.” The word rendered “want” is used elsewhere only in Mark 12.44, where it refers to the material poverty of a widow. In the present context where such thoughts as “care,” “concern,” and “active interest in one’s welfare” are found, the Good News Translation rendering is possible. Most translations, however, retain the original sense of poverty, for example, “not that I complain of want” (Moffatt Revised Standard Version), “I am not saying this because I am in need of anything” (Translators New Testament [Translator’s New Testament]), and “I am not talking about shortage of money” (Jerusalem Bible).

In this verse there are two expressions of cause, one introduced by the conjunction because and the other by the conjunction for. The first is a more immediate type of cause and relates I feel neglected to the immediately preceding statement I am not saying this. The second expression of cause relates, not to the preceding clause, but to the entire concept combined in the first part of the verse.

Paul proceeds to explain a lesson he has learned. I have learned represents the rendering of a verb in the aorist tense, but the emphasis is on the result of an action (as opposed to the beginning), and so in English the perfect tense form is appropriate. The pronoun I is emphatic. Paul’s sense of independence has been acquired, not through studies, but through the experiences and trials of life.

To be satisfied with what I have is literally “to be content in which things I am.” The clause “in which things I am” can be taken as “in the circumstances in which I am,” meaning “in my present circumstances.” But the context appears to favor the sense of “in whatever circumstances I find myself.” This is the interpretation followed by most translators. Another possibility, however, is suggested in the Good News Translation rendering with what I have (Jerusalem Bible “on what I have”; cf. Bible en français courant Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch). What Paul goes on to say in the following verse seems to justify this third type of rendering.

The adjective rendered satisfied (literally “self-sufficient”), appearing only here in the New Testament, was an important word in Stoic ethics. It was used to describe a state of mind or attitude in which a man is absolutely independent of all things and of all people. It was a cultivated attitude of a wise man whose sufficiency was not dependent on circumstances and conditions. As used by Paul, however, this attitude is a gift from God, made possible through Christ (v. 13), not something achieved by an act of human will.

For I have learned to be satisfied with what I have may sometimes be expressed as “for I have learned how not to feel any lack, regardless of how little I have.” It is also possible to translate this expression of cause as “for I have learned to be content even if I have very little.”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .