That’s a great instinctual question, Mike. And one we leaders and teachers always need to keep in mind. Philippians 4:13 is one of the most quoted, most tattooed, and most misunderstood verses in the entire Bible, because almost nobody reads the sentences right before it.

So how would someone new to the Bible know the context and background of Philippians 4:13, and keep from turning it into a fortune-cookie promise machine? The short answer is: They wouldn’t…yet.

We read the Bible the same way we grow, developmentally. Like children learning to crawl, walk, and talk, those of us who are new to the Bible are prone to do things more literally. It’s just where we start, and there’s no shame in it. In fact, one of my teenagers is reading through Proverbs one day at a time. Last night she was peppering me with questions about Proverbs 22. It was such an interesting conversation to see how she made sense of the proverbs, and the questions it generated for her. Conversations like those are ideally where believers learn the skill of Bible reading.

Of course, as we grow, we develop the capacity for more skilled, nuanced action. Whether that’s in church, a small groups, or with trusted friends or mentors, that’s where a new believer should discover the power and importance of context.

Here are some simple guardrails:

The “One-Verse Rule”
Whenever you see a verse floating around by itself (on a coffee mug, Instagram graphic, or locker-room poster), pause and ask: “What are the two verses before it and the two verses after it?”
In Philippians 4, that simple habit instantly shows you Paul is talking about being content whether he has a full stomach or an empty one, whether he’s free or in chains—not about winning the championship or crushing your finals.

Read whole letters like letters
Paul didn’t write in chapters and verses—he wrote short letters you can finish in 10–15 minutes. Try reading the entire book of Philippians in one sitting (it’s only four chapters). You’ll meet Paul in prison, hear his joy, feel his gratitude for the Philippian church, and suddenly verse 13 lands in its real home: a prison cell, not a weight room.

“Scroll Up”
Most Bible apps and websites let you tap any verse and instantly see the surrounding paragraph or chapter. Make that a reflex. Ten extra seconds of scrolling saves years of misunderstanding.

Borrow a reading plan that gives the big picture
Something like The Bible Project’s “How to Read the Bible” series, the YouVersion “New Testament in 30 Days,” or our own Walking The Text teaching series videos will walk you through sections of the Bible with short videos that explain the context as you go. You’re never left guessing who’s writing, why, or what just happened.

Find a “Bible friend”
Discipleship and discipline share the same root for a reason. None of us were meant to figure this out alone. A small group, a mentor, a pastor, or even a trusted online community can say, “Hey, that verse is awesome—but here’s what Paul was actually celebrating in that moment.”

All that aside, your question is why we launched Walking The Text.