Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

esult of passing providential preventative suffering and momentum testing] how to live in
extreme abundance [supergrace B status]. In every circumstance I have been completely
initiated [by continual testing & discipline], both to be satisfied [saturated with Bible
doctrine] and to hunger [for more spiritual food which leads to ultra-supergrace], both to
have more than enough [doctrine is coming out of his ears] and to be lacking [not yet in
ultra-supergrace].
KW Philp. 4:12 I know in fact how to discipline myself in lowly circumstances. I know in fact
how to conduct myself when I have more than enough. In everything and in all things I have
learned the secret, both to be satiated and to be hungry, and to have more than enough and to
lack.
KJV Philippians 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and
in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
TRANSLATION HIGHLIGHTS
Paul uses a physical metaphor of “being hungry and being stuffed with food” with the spiritual
life. He reflects back on his early Christian walk and shares with the Philippian believers that he
has come to know (Consummative Perfect tense) how to be humbled (Dramatic Present tense) by
the enforced humility of divine discipline. He then learned genuine humility as the result of his
recovery from reversionism. He also shares how he has come to know (Consummative Perfect
tense) how to live in supergrace prosperity (Dramatic Present tense). In other words, he has lived
on both sides of the spectrum, as well as everything in between. He has lived through the worst
of times (Latin: humiliation) and the best of times (Latin: abundance), and learned something
valuable in the spiritual life through both extremes.
In many geographical locations and in different times and circumstances, he has been instructed
in the mysteries of the spiritual life (Consummative Perfect tense) by his recovery from
reversionism and his prosperity testing. Most of us, at least those of us who are maturing, will
also be disciplined and tested. The intended result is to be happy in all circumstances. Like Paul,
we are to learn the secret of being satisfied (Durative Present tense), gorged with food and drink
(Latin: satiated) like well-fed livestock – saturated with Bible doctrine. Those are the good
times, which are often followed by prosperity testing. We are also to learn the secret of being
hungry (Durative Present tense) and not being able to find our next meal – hungry for more Bible
doctrine but unable to find someone to teach us advanced doctrine.
Again, Paul contrasts the opposite ends of the spiritual spectrum with physical food metaphors.
Our testing for forward momentum in the spiritual life often comes when we are fat and happy,
content (Perfective Present tense) with what we are learning, with Bible doctrine coming out of
our ears. And our divine discipline for forward momentum in the spiritual life often comes when
we are being disciplined for reversionism (Customary Present tense) or are struggling to pass
tests in between difference stages of spiritual progress – from spiritual adolescence to supergrace