4:13 I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.

Ben Witherington has characterised this the ‘Superman Verse’, on the basis of its common misinterpretation.

Noting that this verse is often claimed by athletes, the Apologetics Study Bible for Students explains:

‘Paul is not claiming that Christians can do absolutely anything. After all, is it really possible to run three-minute miles or bench press one thousand pounds? The context shows that Paul actually had Christian perseverance in mind. He wrote this letter from prison. Part of his emphasis was to commend the Philippians for their care and support of him in his tough circumstances (v. 10). Paul said that he had learned how to be content even in the midst of tribulations such as poverty and hunger (vv. 11–12). The secret to this contentment was trusting God’s provisions and strength, which so often had enabled Paul to overcome hardships in his life as a missionary (v. 13). This is the meaning of Philippians 4:13. We can do all the things God calls us to in our Christian walk because God will strengthen us.’

Popular self-esteem preacher Joel Osteen ignores the context of this verse, and seeks to soothe and reassure his readers with the following message:

‘No matter what’s happening in your life, remember that you are not limited by your resources, your family or your background. Almighty God has anointed, equipped and empowered you. He has given you creativity, ideas, inventions, skills and talents. Don’t you dare settle for a mediocre life! Today, I call forth the seeds of greatness inside you. Today, I declare that your best days are ahead, that you are blessed with success, with supernatural strength, with promotion, and with divine protection. I declare that you can do all things through Christ.’

Eslewhere, Osteen puts a spin on the verse in the following way:

‘Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ”. One translation says “I can do all seasons through Christ”. You may be in a winter season, not seeing the favor you’ve seen in the past. Instead of complaining, try a different approach, “Lord, I thank you that I can do all seasons. I can do spring and I can do winter. I can do harvest and I can do planting. I can do this pandemic season, I can do this season taking care of my elderly parents, I can do this season where I’m not being treated right, where I’m dealing with this illness”. In those winter seasons like a tree you’re gathering up sap, you’re getting stronger, your character is being developed. You’re learning to trust God in a greater way.’ (Emphasis added)

(I don’t know where Osteen got this idea that ‘all things’ might be translated ‘all seasons’.  I can find no translation that suggests this.  The word is ‘panta‘, which simply means ‘everything’, or ‘all things’.)

Another preacher asks:

‘Have you come to that point where you know that nothing is impossible unto you? You can do all things through Christ! It’s your heritage as a child of God, because He’s made you sufficient in His sufficiency.

‘The more you’re conscious of it, and affirm it, the more you programme yourself with the abilities of Christ. Suddenly, you’ll discover wonderful talents—uncanny abilities—unleashed from within you for things you never knew you could do. You’ll birth new dreams and create new frontiers and vistas of success for the Kingdom and in the world. Never confess inability, for you’re able to do all things. You’re up to any task.’

Even serious reference works fall into the same error.  Clinical Psychologist N. Abi-Hashem advises individuals with low self-esteem to:

‘Practice self-affirmation by countering old negative thoughts and messages. Gradually reverse them with positive and constructive ones. For example, an extreme negative thought would be: “I am a failure! I can’t do anything right.” Changing it to a realistic positive, would become: “Although I make some mistakes at times, I know I can do so many things right, and I have proven that before.” Furthermore, it is highly recommended to compliment or fortify the new statement by adding an appropriate and powerful Scripture verse like “… and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13). Hopefully, this begins to repair the pathological cycles and allows the positive input to penetrate into deeper layers of the soul until it reaches the core of the person’s being.’

(Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology and Counselling)

Murrary Harris (Navigating Tough Texts) notes

‘the temptation to apply the statement personally and define the “all things” by one’s individual situation or need and then claim Christ’s power to achieve that goal, whether it be financial success, academic achievement, or sporting performance.’

To be sure, a justification for a relatively broad application of this verse, can be found in v19.

In the previous verse, (Php 4:12) Paul says that he has learned how to live in plenty and in want, to live with and without; he has learned how to endure all kinds of circumstances. The second translation offered above of Php 4:13 better suits this context. This verse does not suggest that one can do anything so long as one relies on God’s strength. It is not a call to superman Christianity. Rather, it suggests that God can give us strength to endure any and all of the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.’

As D.A. Carson writes:

‘The “everything” cannot be completely unqualified (e.g. jump over the moon, integrate complex mathematical equations in my head, turn sand into gold), so it is commonly expounded as a text that promises Christ’s strength to believers in all that they have to do or in all that God sets before them to do. That of course is a biblical thought; but as far as this verse is concerned it pays insufficient attention to the context. The “everything” in this context is contented living in the midst of food or hunger, plenty or want (vv10-12). The meaning, then, is ‘‘I can be contented in all these circumstances”. Whatever his circumstances, Paul can cope, with contentment, through Christ who gives him strength.’

(Exegetical Fallacies, 115f).

In context, then, Paul has been expressing thankfulness for the monetary help he has received from the church at Philippi.  At the same time, he doesn’t depend on financial security for his sense of contentment.  Indeed, he has learned the secret of being content in whatever material circumstances he finds himself in.  And the secret is to do this in Christ’s strength.

Harris summarises:

‘Whatever our circumstances may be, our ability to cope and our contentment are dependent on the constant empowering of the risen Christ. His power is needed as much to cope with affluence as with poverty, although that strength will be felt in different ways. Significantly, the tense of “who strengthens me” is present continuous. Our situations that require his strength may change, but his enabling power remains constant.’

Roger Ellsworth gives two examples:

‘When [Paul] pleaded with the Lord to remove a physical condition from him, the Lord responded: ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness’ (2 Cor. 12:9–10).

‘He would later write, when completely forsaken by others, ‘But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me …’ (2 Tim. 4:17).’

Jared Wilson and Matt Chandler write summarise:

‘Philippians 4:13 is not about chasing your dreams, following your passion, pulling yourself up by your bootstraps, accomplishing anything you want with God’s help? It is instead the testimony of those who have Christ and have found Him supremely valuable, joyous, and satisfying. In a life constantly marked by these extreme highs and lows, Paul has found the great constant security, the great centering hope: Jesus Christ Himself.’ (To Live is Christ; to Die is Gain p.202)

See also the discussion in Croteau. Urban Legends of the New Testament: 40 Common Misconceptions. and this, by George Guthrie.