4:12a

I know how to live humbly: Paul knew what it was like not to have the things he needed. He was capable of living with very little.

I know how: This has two possible meanings:

(1) “I know how…”; that is, this means the same as “I have learned to be content” in 4:11b. (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)

(2) “I know by experience” or “I have experienced [need]”. (New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Revised English Bible, Contemporary English Version).

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Paul was expanding what he has said in 4:11. In this verse he was giving specific examples.

to live humbly: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as to live humbly can be understood as referring to two things:

(1) It refers to a lack of physical resources such as food, clothes and money. (New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It refers to a mental state and means that Paul was humbled or humiliated. (Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, King James Version)

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

4:12b

I know how to abound: Paul had experienced times when he had lacked things he needed, but he had also had times when he had had enough. And he had learned ho to be satisfied or content in both sets of circumstances.

I know: This has the same two possible meanings as in 4:12a and you should interpret it in the same way in both parts of the verse.

4:12c

I am accustomed to any and every situation: Here Paul repeated the main idea of what he had said in 4:11b. He had learned to be happy no matter what happened to him.

I am accustomed to: Paul was not talking here about learning something “secret,” something unknown to other people. He just meant that he had learned “how to…”

any and every situation: The Greek phrase here can be literally translated as “in every and in all.” This can be interpreted in different ways.

(1) “Every” and “all” both refer to circumstances or situations. Together they mean “all sorts of situations”. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)

(2) “Every” and “all” refer to different things. For example:

anywhere, at any time (Good News Translation) (New Century Version, King James Version, Good News Translation)

It is recommend that you follow interpretation (1).

4:12d

to being filled and being hungry: Paul had learned to be satisfied whether he had plenty of food or not enough food. Consider whether it would be a more natural order in your language to reverse the order and say “…whether hungry or filled.”

4:12e

to having plenty and having need: Paul was content whether he had all he needed or less than he needed. He was repeating the main idea of what he said in 4:12a–b.

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