Stoicism, a philosophical school focused on maximizing self-control as the way to achieve inner peace, is on the rise once again. Like most other errors, Stoicism has emotional and practical appeal precisely because it comes close to a biblical truth. Even the apostle Paul initially sounds like he’s endorsing Stoic thought in Philippians 4 when he talks about contentment “in any and every circumstance” (v. 12). A closer reading, however, shows that, far from endorsing Stoicism, Paul undermines it, declaring that the gospel of Jesus Christ offers a better answer to life’s problems and challenges. Paul’s Surprising Word ChoiceIn Philippians 4, Paul at first blush seems to endorse the Stoic approach.