“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me — dynameō (strengthen, empower) places all ability in Christ. 'All things' (ta panta) is limitless: Christ's strength covers all circumstances. This is not stoic self-reliance but theistic dependence. The strength is Christological: his dynamis (power) becomes Paul's capacity. The verse is universalized often, but its context is specifically hardship-endurance. Paul's sufficiency rests on Christ's inexhaustible power.
Church Fathers on Philippians 4:13
I have ofttimes said, that almsgiving has been introduced not for the sake of the receivers, but of the givers, for the latter are they which make the greatest gain. And this Paul shows here also. In what way? The Philippians had sent him somewhat, after a long time, and had committed the same to Epaphroditus. See then, how when he is about to send Epaphroditus as the bearer of this Epistle, he praises them, and shows that this action was for the need, not of the receiver,…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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