αὐτάρκης (autarkēs)
autarkēs
self-sufficient
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective autarkēs describes a state of being self-sufficient or independent, capable of needing no aid or support from external circumstances. Derived from roots meaning "self" and "to be sufficient," it originally carried a philosophical weight in classical Greek, denoting a person who is entirely self-contained. In the New Testament, however, the term shifts toward an internal attitude of contentment.
Its sole biblical appearance occurs in Philippians 4:11, where Paul explains that he has learned to be content in any situation. Here, the word does not imply emotional detachment or a lack of desire for help, but rather a deep stability that remains unshaken by changing external conditions. It reflects a peace that does not depend on material provision or favorable outcomes.
Translators typically render this term as "content," though the Greek suggests more than mere satisfaction with what one has. It points to a resilient inner strength, allowing a person to remain steady whether in abundance or need. This usage highlights a spiritual maturity that finds sufficiency not in circumstances, but in a trust that transcends them.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word autarkēs appears only once in the New Testament, in Philippians 4:11. Paul uses it to describe a learned state of being content regardless of his circumstances. This is not about emotional detachment or needing no one. It is a deep stability that remains unshaken by changing external conditions.
For your faith, this offers a profound hope. You do not need to control every outcome to find peace. Instead, you can cultivate an inner strength that trusts God’s provision in both abundance and need. This spiritual maturity allows you to remain steady when life feels uncertain.
We all face seasons of lack or excess. Paul’s example invites us to look beyond our immediate situation. It is a reminder that true sufficiency comes from a trust that transcends material conditions. May this peace anchor your heart today.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- content1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὐτάρκης1×
Key Verses
-
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
This is the sole New Testament occurrence, where Paul defines the term as a learned contentment in any state of being.