The Meaning of Philippians 2:13 Explained

Philippians 2:13

KJV: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

YLT: for God it is who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Darby: for it is God who works in you both the willing and the working according to his good pleasure.

ASV: for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  it is  God  which  worketh  in  you  both  to will  and  to do  of  [his] good pleasure. 

What does Philippians 2:13 Mean?

Verse Meaning

In the preceding context Paul had been urging his readers to do right even though he was not in Philippi to motivate and encourage them to do so ( Philippians 1:27; Philippians 2:12). Here he reminded them that God was at work not just with them but in them to provide motivation and enabling strength (Gr. energein, from which we get the word "energy"). He would enable them to work out their own salvation. God carries out this work through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and His main tool is the Word of God.
"God does not work and has not worked ... because man has worked.... The contrary is true: because God works and has worked, therefore man must and can work." [1]
This verse is one of the most comforting in the New Testament. Sometimes we want to do right but seem to lack the energy or ability. This verse assures us that God will help us. At other times we cannot even seem to want to do right. Here we learn that God can also provide the desire to do His will when we do not have it. If we find that we do not want to do right, we can ask God to work in us to create a desire to do His will. This verse gives us confidence that God desires both to motivate and to enable us.

Context Summary

Philippians 2:12-18 - Lights In The World
The sublime visions of the Apostle of the glory of the divine Redeemer are always linked with practical exhortation. Do nothing through pride and vainglory. Look on the things of others. Count others better than yourself. Work out what God is working in. Your heart is God's workshop! His Spirit is there, striving against selfishness, pride, impurity, and vanity, but you must consolidate each holy impulse in speech and act. Be careful of every such movement in your soul; it will become clearer and more definite as you yield to it, and it will be corroborated by outward circumstances, which God will open before you. But exercise fear and trembling, just as the young pupil of a great master will be nervously careful not to lose one thought or suggestion which he may impart.
In this manner you will become as a lighthouse on a rockbound coast, shining with blameless and beneficent beauty among your companions. Light is silent, but it reveals. Light is gentle, but it is mighty in its effects. Light departs when the sun is down, but it may be maintained by various luminaries until dawn again breaks. As we shine, we shall be consumed, but the sacrifice will not be in vain. [source]

Chapter Summary: Philippians 2

1  Paul exhorts them to unity, and to all humbleness of mind, by the example of Christ's humility;
12  to a careful proceeding in the way of salvation, that they be as lights to a wicked world,
16  and comforts to him their apostle, who is now ready to be offered up to God
19  He hopes to send Timothy to them, and Epaphroditus also

Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:13

Which worketh in you [ο ενεργων εν υμιν]
Articular present active participle of ενεργεω — energeō from ενεργος — energos (εν εργον — enκαι το τελειν και το ενεργειν — ergon) one at work, common verb from Aristotle on, to be at work, to energize. God is the Energy and the Energizer of the universe. Modern scientists, like Eddington, Jeans, and Whitney, are not afraid to agree with Paul and to put God back of all activity in nature. [source]
Both to will and to work [υπερ της ευδοκιας]
“Both the willing and the working (the energizing).” God does it all, then. Yes, but he puts us to work also and our part is essential, as he has shown in Phlippians 2:12, though secondary to that of God. For his good-pleasure (huper tēs eudokias). So Whitney puts “the will of God” behind gravitation and all the laws of nature. [source]
For his good-pleasure [huper tēs eudokias)]
So Whitney puts “the will of God” behind gravitation and all the laws of nature. [source]
For it is God which worketh in you []
Completing and guarding the previous statement. In you, not among you. Worketh ( ἐνεργῶν ). See on Mark 6:14; see on James 5:16. The verb means effectual working. In the active voice, to be at work. In the middle voice, as here (used only by James and Paul, and only of things), to display one's activity; show one's self-operative. Compare Ephesians 3:20. [source]
To will and to do [τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν]
Lit., the willing and the doing. Both are from God, and are of one piece, so that he who wills inevitably does. The willing which is wrought by God, by its own nature and pressure, works out into action. “We will, but God works the will in us. We work, therefore, but God works the working in us” (Augustine). For to do, Rev. substitutes to work, thus preserving the harmony in the Greek between “God which worketh” and “to work.” [source]
Of His good pleasure [ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας]
Rev., better, for His, etc. Lit., for the sake of; in order to subserve. See 1 Timothy 2:4. [source]

What do the individual words in Philippians 2:13 mean?

God for is the [One] working in you both - to will and to work according to [His] good pleasure
Θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας

Θεὸς  God 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
  the  [One] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἐνεργῶν  working 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐνεργέω  
Sense: to be operative, be at work, put forth power.
καὶ  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
θέλειν  to  will 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἐνεργεῖν  to  work 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: ἐνεργέω  
Sense: to be operative, be at work, put forth power.
ὑπὲρ  according  to 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ὑπέρ 
Sense: in behalf of, for the sake of.
τῆς  [His] 
Parse: Article, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εὐδοκίας  good  pleasure 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: εὐδοκία  
Sense: will, choice.