Chestnut Ridge Church
Today's Music
Beautiful Day, Hallelujah for the Cross, On My Heart, Fullness
Thankful (Tim Haring)
Problem: It’s hard to be thankful under some circumstances.
Solution: Be thankful right now.
Philippians 4:10-13 HCSB
[Paul] employs…a technical term taken from the vocabulary of the mystery religions, to describe the initiatory rites of a devotee who wished to enter their secrets and privileges.3 – P.T. O’Brien
In the mystery religions it was a technical term meaning “to initiate (into the mysteries).” Paul used it here to suggest a kind of “initiation” (by his experiences) into being content…4 – R.P. Lightner
[“Content” is a] stoic word, expressing the favorite doctrine of the sect, that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock of circumstance. – M.R. Vincent
[The word “content”] literally expresses “independent of others, and having sufficiency in one’s self.”– R.R. Melick
Thus, Paul expressed a crucial paradox. He was strong when he was weak! He was independent (self-sufficient) only when he was dependent! Although Paul realized the necessity of living in a Christian community, he also knew what it meant to face life’s problems alone and still triumph through them.5 - Melick
Philippians 4:13 HCSB