KJV: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
YLT: So that, my beloved, as ye always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, with fear and trembling your own salvation work out,
Darby: So that, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
ASV: So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
ἀγαπητοί | beloved |
Parse: Adjective, Vocative Masculine Plural Root: ἀγαπητός Sense: beloved, esteemed, dear, favourite, worthy of love. |
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μου | of me |
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Singular Root: ἐγώ Sense: I, me, my. |
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καθὼς | just as |
Parse: Adverb Root: καθώς Sense: according as. |
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πάντοτε | always |
Parse: Adverb Root: πάντοτε Sense: at all times, always, ever. |
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ὑπηκούσατε | you have obeyed |
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural Root: ὑπακούω Sense: to listen, to harken. |
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παρουσίᾳ | presence |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: παρουσία Sense: presence. |
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μόνον | only |
Parse: Adverb Root: μόνον Sense: only, alone, but. |
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νῦν | now |
Parse: Adverb Root: νῦν Sense: at this time, the present, now. |
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πολλῷ | much |
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular Root: πολύς Sense: many, much, large. |
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μᾶλλον | more |
Parse: Adverb Root: μᾶλλον Sense: more, to a greater degree, rather. |
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ἀπουσίᾳ | absence |
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular Root: ἀπουσία Sense: absence. |
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φόβου | fear |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: φόβος Sense: fear, dread, terror. |
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τρόμου | trembling |
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular Root: τρόμος Sense: a trembling or quaking with fear. |
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τὴν | - |
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: ὁ Sense: this, that, these, etc. |
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ἑαυτῶν | your own |
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Plural Root: ἑαυτοῦ Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves. |
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σωτηρίαν | salvation |
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular Root: σωτηρία Sense: deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation. |
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κατεργάζεσθε | work out |
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Middle or Passive, 2nd Person Plural Root: κατεργάζομαι Sense: to perform, accomplish, achieve. |
Greek Commentary for Philippians 2:12
B and a few other MSS. omit ως hōs The negative μη mē goes with the imperative κατεργαζεστε katergazesthe (work out), not with υπηκουσατε hupēkousate (obeyed) which would call for ουχ ouch [source]
They are not to render eye-service only when Paul is there, but much more when he is away. Work out (κατεργαζεστε katergazesthe). Perfective use of κατα kata (down) in composition, work on to the finish. This exhortation assumes human free agency in the carrying on the work of one‘s salvation. With fear and trembling “Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution” (Vincent). “A nervous and trembling anxiety to do right” (Lightfoot). Paul has no sympathy with a cold and dead orthodoxy or formalism that knows nothing of struggle and growth. He exhorts as if he were an Arminian in addressing men. He prays as if he were a Calvinist in addressing God and feels no inconsistency in the two attitudes. Paul makes no attempt to reconcile divine sovereignty and human free agency, but boldly proclaims both. [source]
Perfective use of κατα kata (down) in composition, work on to the finish. This exhortation assumes human free agency in the carrying on the work of one‘s salvation. [source]
“Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution” (Vincent). “A nervous and trembling anxiety to do right” (Lightfoot). Paul has no sympathy with a cold and dead orthodoxy or formalism that knows nothing of struggle and growth. He exhorts as if he were an Arminian in addressing men. He prays as if he were a Calvinist in addressing God and feels no inconsistency in the two attitudes. Paul makes no attempt to reconcile divine sovereignty and human free agency, but boldly proclaims both. [source]
Connect with work out, not with obeyed. Do not work out your salvation as though impelled to action by my presence merely. [source]
Than if I were present; for in my absence even greater zeal and care are necessary. [source]
Carry out “to the goal” (Bengel). Complete. See on Romans 7:8. Your own salvation. There is a saving work which God only can do for you; but there is also a work which you must do for yourselves. The work of your salvation is not completed in God's work in you. God's work must be carried out by yourselves. “Whatever rest is provided by Christianity for the children of God, it is certainly never contemplated that it should supersede personal effort. And any rest which ministers to indifference is immoral and unreal - it makes parasites and not men. Just because God worketh in him, as the evidence and triumph of it, the true child of God works out his own salvation - works it out having really received it - not as a light thing, a superfluous labor, but with fear and trembling as a reasonable and indispensable service” (Drummond, “Natural Law in the Spiritual World,” p. 335). Human agency is included in God's completed work. In the saving work of grace God imparts a new moral power to work. Compare Romans 6:8-13; 2 Corinthians 6:1. Believe as if you had no power. Work as if you had no God. [source]
Compare 2 Corinthians 7:15; Ephesians 6:5. Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution. “This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigilance against temptation; it is the fear which inspiration opposes to high-mindedness in the admonition 'be not highminded but fear.' It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from whatever would offend and dishonor God and the Savior. And these the child of God will feel and exercise the more he rises above the enfeebling, disheartening, distressing influence of the fear which hath torment. Well might Solomon say of such fear, 'happy is the man that feareth alway'” (Wardlaw “On Proverbs,” xxviii., 14). Compare 1 Peter 1:17. [source]