The Greek adjective αὐτάρκης
occurs in Philippians 4:11, its only appearance in the GNT. NWT 2013
still renders the adjective with "self-sufficient" while grammarian and scholar William
Mounce offers the rendering, "for I have learned to be content." Either translation is acceptable.
On the other hand, in 1 Timothy 6:6 and 2 Corinthians 9:8, Paul uses the Greek noun αὐτάρκεια. This noun is a cognate of the adjective αὐτάρκης, so they are related words. Here are some translations that I found for αὐτάρκεια:
So either "contentment" or "self-sufficiency" are fine renderings for αὐτάρκεια. Nevertheless, to show the difference between Paul and the Stoics, please consider these points: "self-sufficiency" is contextual: the Stoic view of being autarkic is
not the Pauline view. The inspired apostle said that he learned to be
self-sufficient regardless of what he possessed, whether he had much or
little. Note how he goes from describing self-sufficiency/contentment to identifying the source of his ability to be self-sufficient (Philippians 4:13). Compare
also 1 Timothy 6:6-8. - sufficiency
- contentment
- self-sufficiency
- independence
See https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/5576/ThorntonDillonT2015PhD.pdf?sequence=1
I'm reminded of an aphorism I read in the reader's digest (yes I'm that old) many years ago "If your outflows exceed your income then your upkeep will be your downfall"
ReplyDeleteLove that aphorism, servant. I'm old enough to remember Reader's Digest too plus my parents used to have a subscription and loved reading it. Thanks for the brief trip back to the past for a guy who's not getting any younger--yet!
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