Paul now gives the source of his strength to face all situations: literally, “I have strength for all things in him who strengthens me.” The clause “I have strength for all things” is generally taken to mean “I can do all things” (so Revised Standard Version New English Bible Jerusalem Bible New American Bible). It is also possible, and, in view of the context (vv. 11-12), desirable, to interpret “all things” in the sense of all conditions (Barclay “with any situation”). To face all conditions may be expressed as “regardless of what happens,” or “it makes no difference what happens.”

It is generally understood that “him” in the participial phrase “in him who strengthens me” refers to Christ. It is best to make this meaning explicit, thus “through Christ who gives me power” or by the power that Christ gives me. Verse 13 must sometimes be restructured so as to indicate the causal relation between what Christ does and the strength which Paul has, for example, “Christ causes me to be strong in every kind of circumstance,” or “Christ causes me to have the power to face….”

Quoted with permission from Luo, I-Jin. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1977. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .