Autarkes
A. The adjective autarkes (au)tavrkh$) is a hapax legomenon in the NT appearing only in Philippians 4:11.
B. It is a compound word composed of the following:
1. Personal pronoun autos (au)tov$).
2. Verb arkeo (a)rkevw).
C. Thus, it literally means “to be sufficient in oneself, adequate,” or “content.”
D. The adjective autarkes has the following cognates:
1. Arketos (a)rketov$) (adjective), “sufficient, satisfied.”
2. Autarkeia (au)tavrkeia) (noun), “sufficiency, contentment.”
3. Eparkeo (e)parkevw) (verb), “to aid, to avail for, relieve.”
E. Classical and LXX
1. In classical Greek, the adjective autarkes means “self-sufficient,” hence “strong” (Herodotus, I, 32).
2. It is frequently found with the verb einai, “to be,” in the sense of to be satisfied.
3. In the moral philosophy of Stoicism the ability to be content became the essence of the virtues.
4. So the Stoic Diogenes Laertius speaks of Socrates as being autarkes kai semnos, “contented and devout.”
5. To practice the virtue of contentment was to acquiesce wisely in that which suited one’s own nature or
one’s own daimon; becoming independent of things, a man relied upon himself or as others taught
submitted to the lot meted out to him by the gods (Diogenes Laertius, 2, 24; Epictetus, Dissertiones 1, 1, 12
f.).
6. To have no needs was the ideal of Stoicism.
7. The adjective autarkes appears only 5 times in the LXX (Prv. 24:31; Si. 5:1; 34:28; 40:18; 4 Macc. 9:9).
8. Liddel and Scott define the word, “sufficient in oneself, self-supporting, independent of others” (page 278).
F. Philippians 4:11
1. A Greek-English Lexicon Based on Semantic Domains defines autarkes, “pertaining to being happy or
content with the circumstances in which one exists” (volume 2, page 299).
2. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, “content, selfsufficient” (page 122).
3. The New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, “sufficient for one’s self, strong enough or possessing enough
to need no aid or support; independent of external circumstances; subjectively, contented with one’s lot,
with one’s means, though the slenderest” (page 85).
4. The Analytical Greek Lexicon Revised, “sufficient or adequate in one’s self; contented with one’s lot”
(page 60).
5. The adjective autarkes here in Philippians 4:11 means “content.”
6. Paul is content in whatever circumstances he finds himself, whether adversity or prosperity.
7. He reveals here with this word that he is not a slave to circumstances since his happiness and contentment
is not based upon prosperity, therefore, adversity does dictate his attitude.
8. Webster’s New Universal Unabridged Dictionary defines the adjective content:, “satisfied with what one is
or has; not wanting more or anything else; satisfied.”
9. If we paraphrase this definition, we could say that the apostle Paul is satisfied in whatever circumstances
that he finds himself, whether prosperous or adverse circumstances.
10. Contentment means that he has a relaxed mental attitude regardless of his circumstances.
11. He equates the following:
a. time and eternity
b. adversity and prosperity
c. living and dying
12. As with its classical usage, autarkes here in Philippians 4:11 is employed with the infinitive einai.
13. Unlike the classical usage, Paul is not considering himself sufficient in himself but rather sufficient because
of the doctrines of the Lord Jesus Christ and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
14. This is indicated clearly in Philippians 4:13.
15. He is satisfied with what he has because of the relationship and fellowship he has on a day by day, moment
by moment basis with the Trinity.
16. This relationship and fellowship is based upon the application of the Word of God.
17. Unlike the Stoics who use this word, Paul’s contentment is based upon the absolute truth of the Word of
God and not the lies from the cosmic system of Satan that Stoicism is based upon.
2002 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries
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18. He does not rely upon himself but rather he relies upon God and specifically, the Word of God.
19. Paul has the divine perspective of circumstances which he acquired through the application of the Word of
God.
20. His happiness is independent of circumstances and people because he is dependent upon God and
specifically, the Word of God.
21. This contentment in the soul of the apostle is the production of the Holy Spirit.
22. It is produced by the Holy Spirit when the believer applies the Word of God, which is the mind of Christ.
a. Agape (a)gavph), “virtue-love”
b. Chara (xarav), “contentment”
c. Eirene (ei)rhvnh), “peace”
d. Makrothumia (makroqumiva), “Patient-endurance”
e. Chrestotes (xrhstovth$), “Integrity”
f. Agathosune (a)gaqwsuvnh), “Generosity”
g. Pistis (pivsti$), “Faithfulness”
h. Praotes (praovth$), “Humility”
i. Enkrateia (e)gkravteia), “Discipline”
23. Paul is not denying that he has no needs but rather he is content because he is confident that God will
provide for those needs or the necessities of life as promised in the Word of God (Mt. 6:25-34).
24. The Stoics would deny having needs in order to attain to a state of contentment but Paul is not denying that
he has no needs but rather he is trusting God to fulfill those needs when He sees fit.
25. God wanted Paul and He wants all believers to come to a place where there happiness and contentment is
not based upon people and circumstances but rather based upon the divine perspective or viewpoint, which
is acquired through the application of the Word of God.
2002 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries
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