Philippians 4:11 (ASV)

Passage

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

Nearby Context

Philippians 4:9 The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:10 But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

Philippians 4:12 I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "speak", "respect", "want", "learned", "whatsoever", "state", "therein", and "content". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "speak" and "respect", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 10's "But I rejoice in the Lord greatly..." into verse 12's "I know how to be abased and...", so "speak" and "respect" belong inside that flow. In Philippians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "speak" and "respect" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.