Philippians 4:13
πάντα ἰσχύω ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ.
I am able for all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The Power of Sufficiency
πάντα ἰσχύω – “I am strong for all things.” The verb ἰσχύω (present active indicative) means “to be strong,” “to have power or ability.” The direct object πάντα (“all things”) is accusative plural neuter, covering every situation Paul has discussed—from hunger to abundance. The emphasis is not on external achievement, but on inner spiritual sufficiency.
Means of Empowerment
ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με Χριστῷ – “in Christ who strengthens me.”
- ἐν + dative indicates means or sphere—“by” or “through.”
- τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με – “the one who strengthens me.” This is a present active participle of ἐνδυναμόω, a Pauline compound meaning “to empower, to infuse strength.” The dative article τῷ treats the participle substantivally: “the empowering one.”
- Χριστῷ is appositional—Paul identifies Christ as the source of this empowerment. This construction makes the Messiah both the instrument and the environment of spiritual power.
Summary Table
| Greek Phrase | Translation | Form | Function / Insight |
|---|---|---|---|
| πάντα ἰσχύω | I am able for all things | Present indicative verb + object | Declares sufficiency in any circumstance |
| ἐν τῷ ἐνδυναμοῦντί με | through the one who strengthens me | Dative article + participle | Means or instrument of empowerment |
| Χριστῷ | Christ | Appositional dative | Identifies the source of strength |
Closing Insight
This brief but potent verse is a manifesto of grace-powered endurance. The Greek is tight and declarative. Paul does not boast of his own strength—his power flows from Christ, continuously strengthening him in all things. A participle does the heavy lifting here, revealing that the source of resilience is not Paul, but the indwelling, enabling Messiah.
