10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
At this point, as the letter reaches its end, Paul finally mentions the Philippians’ gift to him. While this may seem ungrateful to us, Paul is walking a fine line between his official role as an apostle and personal friendship. Even more so than now, in Paul’s time, rich people would act as patrons and would expect something in return from their protégés. The latter would understand that they owed something to their patron. This system colored much of the political, economic and social world of ancient times. Paul refused to accept gifts from other churches because he did not want to give them the idea that he owed them something, that they were his patrons. He believed in the supremacy of his apostolic authority and knew that he must follow only the Holy Spirit.
The fact that Paul accepted financial gifts only from the Philippians shows that neither he nor they viewed matters that way. The Philippian church expected nothing from Paul in return. He still had to respond to their gift but since gratitude was associated with patronage, he needed to find a subtly different response. In this passage, Paul responds as an equal and treats the gift as a contribution to their shared missionary work. They have been concerned about him all along but only at this time found the opportunity to show it. They had never abandoned him but could not show it until now.
Nor does Paul want them to think he is in need and is asking for more money. Note that he rejoices “in the Lord” giving Christ the credit for the gift. In Greek, his rejoicing is great but the source of his joy is not the Philippians or their gift but Christ. As Christians, they are not looking to establish a patronage relationship with him but are doing their part in the mission of the Church. Not all people are called to do missionary work directly, but they can support it financially. This idea should govern our own contributions today.
In verses 11 to 13, Paul stresses this idea, asserting that he does not really need the money because he can cope in whatever situation he finds himself. This does not mean that he’s a Stoic who believes in self-sufficiency. Paul does not rely on himself but on Jesus and, through Jesus, receives the ability to cope with anything. He, therefore, can face death or torture because he knows that Christ will give him the strength to get through it. Trust in Jesus is the core of his belief and existed because of Paul’s long life of prayer and service to God which deepened his faith. As Marcus Maxwell says, faith does not live in a vacuum, “it is something that is learned through experience, strengthened through use, and honed through prayer.” Faith is about trusting God and knowing that he will see us through, whatever life brings us
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