Coffee Cup VersesHighlights from Philippians

The Vision. . . •Get people to

Heaven from Hatch.•Get Hatch a little more like Heaven.

BOGO

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

How to study the

Bible.

How to study the Bible•Various translations

How to study the Bible•Various translations•Commentaries

Those translations that give the impression that Paul meant he could do anything and that nothing was beyond his powers (KJV, ASV, MOFFATT, GOODSPEED, RSV, KNOX, NEB, NASB, NIV) are misleading to the point of being false. πάντα does literally mean “all things.” But the real meaning of this or any word is determined by its context. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Philippians, vol. 43, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 2004), 266.

…it perfectly clear that this contentment did not arise from his own inherent or innate resources. Quite the reverse. His self-sufficiency was entirely due to the sufficiency of Another, Peter Thomas OBrien, The Epistle to the Philippians: a Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1991), 526527.

How to study the Bible•Various translations•Commentaries•Context

I can do all things. . . •Rejoice always. Verse 4.•Be gentle. Verse 5.•Don’t be anxious. Verse 6.•Think on true, noble, etc. Verse 8•Be content no matter what. Verses 10ff.

How to study the Bible•Various translations•Commentaries•Context•Cross references

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:29 (NIV)

The LORD gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” Deuteronomy 31:23 (NIV)

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.Ephesians 3:14–17 (NIV)

How to study the Bible•Various translations•Commentaries•Context•Cross references•Bombard with questions

Writer’s friends. . . •Who? •What?•Where?•When?•Why?•How?

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

How did Paul get such

confidence?

How to study the Bible•Various translations•Commentaries•Context•Cross references•Bombard with questions•How do the latest scientific findings inform our understanding?

The main lesson is that you should aspire not to have high confidence, but to have high competence, and I will show you how to make that happen.

Biographers are quick to attribute the success of eminent people to their colossal levels of confidence, while downplaying the roles of talent and hard work, as if it were in anyone’s hands (or minds) to achieve exceptional levels of success merely through sheer self-belief.

Optimism and confidence are not helpful if they’re unrealistic and blind us to improvements we need to make or dangers we need to avoid.

Contrary to popular belief, people who are overconfident are less popular with others.

Deceiving ourselves into thinking we’re better than we really are means that we will overestimate our ability to perform, dismiss negative feedback as inaccurate, and end up doing much worse than if we’d had a realistic self-view.

Low confidence alerts us to our weaknesses, so lowering our confidence will create the much-needed awareness to improve, and help us close the gap between confidence and competence.

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. Romans 12:3 (NIV)

In short, robust research evidence categorically contradicts the cliché idea that thinking highly of yourself will make you successful, highlighting a big gap between feeling good and being good.

Competence comes before confidence.

Arrogant

Humble

Arrogant

Humble

Competent

Competent

Incompetent

Incompetent

Arrogant /Competent

Humble / Competent

Arrogant / Incompetent

Humble / Incompetent

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)

How did Paul get such

confidence?

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13 (NIV)