Gr. autarkēs, “sufficient for oneself,” “independent of external circumstances.” Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new life given him by Christ, for it is not Paul who deals with circumstances, but Christ who lives in him (see on Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:13; 2 Tim. 1:12).

 Or, “in what things [circumstances].” Paul places no limit to the conditions under which he can be content. There is no contradiction between this thought and that of pressing on to higher spiritual experience (ch. 3:12-14). If we could see into the future as God does, we would see the necessity of our being led in certain ways (DA 224, 225).

 Or, “I learned.” Paul had accepted the lesson at some time in the past and had continuously been putting it into practice since that time. The instruction may have come with his conversion, for his subsequent reactions under varied circumstances indicate that he believed that all that came to him was by the permission of God (see on Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Cor. 12:7-9).

 Gr. husterēsis (see on Mark 12:44). The first clause of this verse throws an interesting light on Paul’s mentality. Even though he was suffering imprisonment, he would not employ his privations to arouse sympathy for his situation.