“I can do all things…” - but what things?
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
You’ve probably seen this verse on T-shirts, coffee mugs, or motivational posters.
It’s often taken to mean: With Christ, I can accomplish my goals, no matter how lofty they are.
But is that what Paul meant?
Look at the verses immediately before it.
Paul says he has learned to be content whether he has plenty—or is hungry. Whether he is living in abundance—or in need.
Then he says:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
The “all things” aren’t all the things Paul dreams of accomplishing.
They’re the circumstances he has learned to endure. Even the tough times.
Reading our desires into the verse focuses our attention on achieving our goals and success.”
Reading the verse in context asks, “What was Paul actually saying?”
Sometimes, reading the context changes everything.
Let’s stop reading the Bible superficially. Let’s move past the coffee-mug theology and learn deep Biblical truth.