αὐτάρκ-ης G0842
Self-sufficient, content; having enough in oneself without needing external resources
Classical philosophy celebrated autarkeia as the sage's ideal—needing nothing beyond oneself, independent of external circumstances. Paul adopts this Stoic term but redefines it: his sufficiency comes not from inner resources but from Christ who strengthens him. He has 'learned the secret of being content' in all circumstances—not self-powered independence but Christ-sustained contentment that transcends material conditions.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Philippians 4:11 shows Paul claiming to be 'self-sufficient' or 'content' in all circumstances. The Greek philosophical ideal gets radically redefined—Paul's contentment isn't Stoic self-reliance but dependence on Christ: 'I can do all things through him who strengthens me.' True autarkeia is Christ-sufficiency, finding abundance or scarcity equally acceptable because Christ himself is the constant resource that makes all circumstances endurable. 1×
AR["مُكْتَفِيًا"]·ben["সন্তুষ্ট"]·DE["genuegsam"]·EN["self-sufficient"]·FR["αὐτάρκης"]·heb["מִסְתַפֵּק"]·HI["सन्तुशत"]·ID["cukup"]·IT["autarkēs"]·jav["cekap"]·KO["자족하기"]·PT["contente"]·RU["довольный"]·ES["auto-suficiente"]·SW["kujitosheleza"]·TR["kendi-kendine-yeten"]·urd["خودکفیل"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
αὐτάρκ-ης, ες, (ἀρκέω) sufficient in oneself, self-supporting, independent of others, ἀνθρώπου σῶμα ἓν οὐδὲν αὔ. ἐστινRefs 5th c.BC+; εἰς εὐδαιμονίαν, of ἀρετή, Refs 5th c.BC+helping itself, acting instinctively, Refs 4th c.BC+; αὐ. βοή a self-reliant shout, Refs 5th c.BC+; οἰκία -έστερον ἑνός, πόλις δ᾽ οἰκίαςRefs 4th c.BC+; σῶμα αὔ. πρός τι strong enough for a thing, Refs 5th c.BC+: with…