The verse that I incorrectly interpreted was Paul’s optimistic statement in his letter to the Philippians: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13).^[1] My original interpretation simply took the English translation at face value and assumed that I could accomplish any task, overcome any obstacle, or defeat any foe if God would just provide enough strength for me to perform at the level necessary to succeed. Unfortunately, not only was my interpretation misguided, but the potential implications for such an inaccurate view of Scripture were quite unhealthy.

The first step in the validation process as enumerated by David Lowery is to define the nature of the interpretive problem. Frankly, as a novice interpreter, I was not even aware of the alternative viewpoints. Thus, from the start, I missed all the steps of validation: (1) defining the problem, (2) sorting out proposed interpretations and differing viewpoints, and (3) asking questions regarding relevant arguments and evidence.^[2]

Philippians, Colossians, Philemon (The New American Commentary, Vol. 32)

However, the most significant mistake besides not taking differing viewpoints into account was ignoring the literary context of the passage. Several interpretations exist for Paul’s famous verse. However, for the purpose of this brief analysis, two different perspectives will suffice. First, Richard Melick appropriately recognizes that the verse under consideration is often abused by taking it out of context, and accordingly, suggests that its context supports two factors: (1) the verse applies to material and physical needs based on economic fluctuations and (2) the power comes from the will of God, not the will of man, thus a misapplication often is due to self-sufficiency.^[3] While Melick provides important biblical truths, he misses the overarching concern provided by the context of this particular verse.

More appropriately, Gordon Fee observes that “everything” or “all things” (πάντα) means both want or plenty, times of need and times of abundance.^[4] Thus, according to Fee, the context of Paul’s language in verses 10-12 supports the interpretation that being in Christ means to experience contentment regardless of the circumstances.^[5]

Although Fee rightly asserts that Paul’s message pertains to contentment, the primary support for the interpretation is not scholarly commentaries. Instead, support primarily rests on the literary context of the passage applied to the syntax of the original Greek: πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με. First, a wooden translation may render the verse: “All I am able in the one who strengthens me.” William Arndt, Frederick Danker, and Walter Bauer explain that the semantic range of the term ἰσχύω includes the ideas that an individual is able, competent, healthy, powerful, or meaningful.^[6] Second, as Fee noted, the word πάντα need not be limited to want but includes bounty as well. Third, the preposition ἐν plus the dative is quite elastic. Although many suggest a dative of cause or instrumentality, Fee suggests a spatial dative, which aligns with verse 7.^[7] Taking these three factors into consideration, an appropriate translation may be, “In everything I am able to experience contentment in Christ Jesus who strengthens me.” In sum, by using the steps of validation, I can render an interpretation that is certainly more accurate than my original.

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[1] Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).

[2] David K. Lowery, “Validation: Exegetical Problem Solving,” in Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, ed. Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning (Wheaton: Crossway, 2006), 158-59.

[3] Richard R. Melick, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, vol. 32 of The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1991), 154–55.

[4] Gordon D. Fee, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1995), 434.

[5]  Ibid., 435; emphasis added.

[6] William Arndt, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament (Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000), 484.

[7] Also see discussion regarding the spatial dative in Philippians 4:13 in Michael J. Thate, “Paul, Φρόνησις, and Participation: The Shape of Space and the Reconfiguration of Place in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians,” in “In Christ” in Paul: Explorations in Paul’s Theology of Union and Participation, ed. Michael J. Thate, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, and Constantine R. Campbell (Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2014), 303–8.

Bibliography

• Arndt, William, Frederick W. Danker, and Walter Bauer. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Chicago: University of Chicago, 2000.
• Fee, Gordon D. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1995.
• Lowery, David K. “Validation: Exegetical Problem Solving.” In Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. Wheaton: Crossway, 2006.
• Melick, Richard R. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Vol. 32 in The New American Commentary. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1991.
• Thate, Michael J. “Paul, Φρόνησις, and Participation: The Shape of Space and the Reconfiguration of Place in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians.” In “In Christ” in Paul: Explorations in Paul’s Theology of Union and Participation, edited by Michael J. Thate, Kevin J. Vanhoozer, and Constantine R. Campbell. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 2014.