Philippians 4 Bible study: I have learned the secret

The letter's last chapter opens, "Therefore, my brothers, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved." (4:1) (tap longed for, stand firm). Favor's Philippians 2 studies chara, the noun behind joy here, and counts it in the letter. Then it names two women: "I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord." (4:2). And it asks someone it calls "true partner" to help them: "Yes, I beg you also, true partner, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (4:3). The letter says nothing more of Euodia and Syntyche than these two verses say, and these notes don't either. It doesn't say who the true partner is, names Clement only here, and says no more of the book of life than 4:3 says. These notes add nothing to any of it.

αὐτάρκηςautarkessay ow-TAR-kays

Thayer, listing 4:11: "contented with one's lot, with one's means, though the slenderest". Strong's: "self-complacent, i.e. contented". "for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it" (4:11): behind to be content is the verb be with this word, and this is the only place the New Testament has it (in all eight editions TAGNT compares). The next verse goes on, "I know how to be humbled, and I also know how to abound." (4:12).