Phillipians 4:19...physical or spiritual?

[webdog]

Can a believer starve to death, die from dehydration or exposure to the elements?

 

[Steven2006]

Of course they could.

IMHO According to Philippians 4:19 God promises He shall supply all I need. Now as to what I truly need for the entirety of my life, I trust God knows.

 

[thegospelgeek]

I do not beleive in a "Health, Wealth, and prosperity" gospel, but the context in this case is physical. I think it applies spiritually as well. So my answer is both.

Can a beleiver starve to death or die of the elements? yes, but only if that is God's exit strategy. In which case they no longer had a need for those things.

 

[StefanM]

I do not beleive in a "Health, Wealth, and prosperity" gospel, but the context in this case is physical. I think it applies spiritually as well. So my answer is both.

Can a beleiver starve to death or die of the elements? yes, but only if that is God's exit strategy. In which case they no longer had a need for those things.

The problem is that such an interpretation neuters the verse. I'm not sure there is a better alternative, though.

Essentially, a paraphrase of the verse along these lines would be "God will provide for all your needs except when he chooses not to."

 

[thegospelgeek]

The problem is that such an interpretation neuters the verse. I'm not sure there is a better alternative, though.

Essentially, a paraphrase of the verse along these lines would be "God will provide for all your needs except when he chooses not to."

Not at all what I am saying, although I can see where you think so. There comes a time in every beleiver's earthly life that God chooses to call us home. The method he chooses to do so is up to him. If he so chose this method, he is free to do so.

To read the passage any other way would say that we would never die. If I have cancer I am need of a cure. If God does not provide one then the verse becomes false. He did not provide my need. To apply it in only a scriptural context takes away from what Paul is saying. That they met his (physical)need and God will meet their (physical) need.

 

[HankD]

Can a believer starve to death, die from dehydration or exposure to the elements?

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.​

No, in the sense that there is no death for a believer.
When we enter His glorious presence then we have no more "needs" of this world and are in a "far better" state of existence.​

Our passing (or exodus as Peter calls it) is the final suppling of (from) our earthly needs, not so for the unsaved, they go from bad to worse.​

HankD​

 

[Allan]

Can a believer starve to death, die from dehydration or exposure to the elements?

Yes they can...
Spiritual Principle --

But here is what the believer needs to understand.

Their life is in God's hand.
God has determined exactly what they will go through through/by his permissive and sovereign will.

Thus the to define the term 'need' we HAVE to put in light of God's purpose and plan and not our according to our own understanding.

We think we have tomorrow. We think it is better to NOT go through trial and pain and even death But that is because we know so little.

Yet God does not and HE gives provides for us according to our 'needs'.

NOW ----

Context here ... Paul is speaking about their sacrificing for the sake of Paul and Paul is declaring that for their sacrifice on his behalf God will take of their needs as they did for him.. Again back to principle above