Philippians 2v12-13
Philippians 2:12
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,...”
work (# 2716) κατεργάζομαι [katĕgazŏmai] x22
x01: committed
x05: do / does / doing
x02: bring(s)
x07: produce(s)(d)
x01: actions
x04: has accomplished / has done / has prepared / is preparing
x01: having done
x01: were performed
Work thoroughly; to finish / fashion.
This word usually means to do something from which something else results. To toil in achievement.
salvation (# 4991) σωτηρίαν [sōtēria] x46
x37: salvation
x05: save(d)
x01: savior
x01: rescuing
x01: survive
x01: deliverance
In all of these instances, soteria is used to denote rescue, or salvation, from a danger, whether it is physical or spiritual. This danger is indeed real, and soteria is intended to mean a real rescue from it.
fear (# 5401) φόβον [phŏbŏs] x47
x34: fear
x04: awe / awestruck
x03: reverence
x02: terrified, respect
x01: alarm, deference
From the primary word “phĕbŏmai” (to be put in fear); alarm or fright. Phŏbŏs has the meaning of flight, caused by being scared.
(1) Fear, dread, terror: this is its meaning when used in the Gospels.
(2) Reverential fear: as a controlling motive of one’s life. This is not a mere fear of His wrath, but a complete dread of displeasing Him.
trembling (# 5156) τρόμον [trŏmŏs] x5
x04: trembling
x01: terror
Tromos, used in Scripture, is used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements in a task, but strives to fulfill his duty regardless.
Philippians 2:13
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
work (# 1754) ενεργεω [ĕnĕrgĕō] x20
x09: are (were)(is) at work
x02: activate(s)(d)
x01: experience
x05: work(ed)(ing)
x01: accomplishes
x01: powerfully
x01: effective
This word, energeo, is used of: 1)God, 2)the Holy Spirit, 3)the Word of God, 4)supernatural power, 5) faith, 6)example of patience and suffering, 7)physical death and spiritual life 8)sinful passions, 9)the spirit of the Evil One, 10)mystery of iniquity. This word implies that something is actually getting accomplished, unlike work (katĕgazŏmai, #2716), which emphasizes only the striving toward a goal, without necessarily achieving the desired result.
What these two verses (Philippians 2:12,13) are saying, I think, congruently with what Scripture teaches elsewhere, is this: strive (Hebrews 12:1) in the things that are necessary to inherit the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), but understand that it is God, not man (Romans 7:18-23), who actually effects the good works that are becoming (Colossians 1:10) of one who is a child of the King, and which are necessary to escape the wrath of God (Romans 5:9). The fear and trembling comes not from fear of punishment (1 John 4:18), but rather from the knowledge that it is God who effectually works His will in us, despite who we are.
Fear and trembling are natural in me, I think, when I clearly see who God is (Revelation 1:17,18). What would it be like to lay at the feet of the Lord? To see the face of the King? I shudder to think that I will do this someday! What a joyful, terrifying day that will be! “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Revelation 1:12-17). Do I really merit being able to see Him? No! Enter fear and trembling: … looking in awe at the One, realizing it is Him, alone, who has the power over the souls of men.
Praise God that Your ways are higher than mine, that Your power is unsurpassed, that You righteousness is perfect, that Your love is beyond measure, that Your grace is deeper than my sins. I am humbled when I consider Your creation; that You troubled Yourself to take the form of man, in order to purchase my life from Your just wrath, and not just my life, but the lives of Your elect. I will not fully understand, this side of eternity, the depth of Your love or the sacrifice You gave so I could know You, but I will humble myself before You, only by Your grace and power, that I would enjoy the sufficiency of Your Son. Reward my strivings with more of You.
“…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,...”
work (# 2716) κατεργάζομαι [katĕgazŏmai] x22
x01: committed
x05: do / does / doing
x02: bring(s)
x07: produce(s)(d)
x01: actions
x04: has accomplished / has done / has prepared / is preparing
x01: having done
x01: were performed
Work thoroughly; to finish / fashion.
This word usually means to do something from which something else results. To toil in achievement.
salvation (# 4991) σωτηρίαν [sōtēria] x46
x37: salvation
x05: save(d)
x01: savior
x01: rescuing
x01: survive
x01: deliverance
In all of these instances, soteria is used to denote rescue, or salvation, from a danger, whether it is physical or spiritual. This danger is indeed real, and soteria is intended to mean a real rescue from it.
fear (# 5401) φόβον [phŏbŏs] x47
x34: fear
x04: awe / awestruck
x03: reverence
x02: terrified, respect
x01: alarm, deference
From the primary word “phĕbŏmai” (to be put in fear); alarm or fright. Phŏbŏs has the meaning of flight, caused by being scared.
(1) Fear, dread, terror: this is its meaning when used in the Gospels.
(2) Reverential fear: as a controlling motive of one’s life. This is not a mere fear of His wrath, but a complete dread of displeasing Him.
trembling (# 5156) τρόμον [trŏmŏs] x5
x04: trembling
x01: terror
Tromos, used in Scripture, is used to describe the anxiety of one who distrusts his ability completely to meet all requirements in a task, but strives to fulfill his duty regardless.
Philippians 2:13
“for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
work (# 1754) ενεργεω [ĕnĕrgĕō] x20
x09: are (were)(is) at work
x02: activate(s)(d)
x01: experience
x05: work(ed)(ing)
x01: accomplishes
x01: powerfully
x01: effective
This word, energeo, is used of: 1)God, 2)the Holy Spirit, 3)the Word of God, 4)supernatural power, 5) faith, 6)example of patience and suffering, 7)physical death and spiritual life 8)sinful passions, 9)the spirit of the Evil One, 10)mystery of iniquity. This word implies that something is actually getting accomplished, unlike work (katĕgazŏmai, #2716), which emphasizes only the striving toward a goal, without necessarily achieving the desired result.
What these two verses (Philippians 2:12,13) are saying, I think, congruently with what Scripture teaches elsewhere, is this: strive (Hebrews 12:1) in the things that are necessary to inherit the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), but understand that it is God, not man (Romans 7:18-23), who actually effects the good works that are becoming (Colossians 1:10) of one who is a child of the King, and which are necessary to escape the wrath of God (Romans 5:9). The fear and trembling comes not from fear of punishment (1 John 4:18), but rather from the knowledge that it is God who effectually works His will in us, despite who we are.
Fear and trembling are natural in me, I think, when I clearly see who God is (Revelation 1:17,18). What would it be like to lay at the feet of the Lord? To see the face of the King? I shudder to think that I will do this someday! What a joyful, terrifying day that will be! “Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.” (Revelation 1:12-17). Do I really merit being able to see Him? No! Enter fear and trembling: … looking in awe at the One, realizing it is Him, alone, who has the power over the souls of men.
Praise God that Your ways are higher than mine, that Your power is unsurpassed, that You righteousness is perfect, that Your love is beyond measure, that Your grace is deeper than my sins. I am humbled when I consider Your creation; that You troubled Yourself to take the form of man, in order to purchase my life from Your just wrath, and not just my life, but the lives of Your elect. I will not fully understand, this side of eternity, the depth of Your love or the sacrifice You gave so I could know You, but I will humble myself before You, only by Your grace and power, that I would enjoy the sufficiency of Your Son. Reward my strivings with more of You.
posted by Frank Bob at 7:18 PM
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