Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Robertson's Word Pictures of the NT

Philippians 2:13

Which worketh in you

(ο ενεργων εν υμιν). Articular present active participle of ενεργεω from ενεργος (εν, εργον) 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.Both to will and to work

(κα το θελειν κα το ενεργειν). "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 verse Philippians 2:12, though secondary to that of God.For his good-pleasure

(υπερ της ευδοκιας). So Whitney puts "the will of God" behind gravitation and all the laws of nature.

Continues after advertising

See also Philippians 2:13 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 13. _FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU_] Every holy purpose, pious resolution, good word, and good work, must come from him; ye must be _workers together with him_, that ye receive not his grac...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    FOR IT IS GOD THAT WORKETH IN YOU - This is given as a reason for making an effort to be saved, or for working out our salvation. It is often thought to be the very reverse, and people often feel that...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    II. CHRIST, THE BELIEVER'S PATTERN CHAPTER 2 _ 1. Oneness of mind through self effacement (Philippians 2:1)_ 2. The humiliation and exaltation of Christ (Philippians 2:5) 3. Work out your own salva...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    PHP_2:12-18. WORK AND SACRIFICE. In view of this wonderful example Paul exhorts his readers to be even more diligent in his absence than they had been when he was present with them. If this is all don...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    THE CAUSES OF DISUNITY (Php_2:1-4)...

  • Barclay Daily Study Bible (NT)

    So then, my beloved, just as at all times you obeyed not only as in my presence, but much more, as things now are, in my absence, carry to its perfect conclusion the work of your own salvation with fe...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    WORKETH. Greek. _energeo._ Not the same as "work out" (Philippians 2:12), _katergazomai_ (see Ephesians 6:13). WILL. App-102. DO. work. Greek. _energeo_. OF. App-104. GOOD PLEASURE. Greek. _eudokia...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _For it is God_&c. Here is the reason for the "fear and trembling." The process of "working out" is one which touches at every point the internal presence of Him before whom "the stars are not pure" ...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    ΘΕῸΣ ΓΆΡ. Here is _the reason_ both for “fear and trembling” and for the assurance that their Apostle’s absence “leaves them not comfortless”: they are indwelt by the eternal Holy One and Loving One H...

  • Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges Commentary

    INFERENCES FROM THE FOREGOING PASSAGES: THE GREATNESS OF THE METHODS OF SALVATION: THE CONSEQUENT CALL TO A LIFE REVERENT, SELF-FORGETFUL, FRUITFUL, FAITHFUL, JOYFUL...

  • Charles Rose Commentaries

    ΘΕΌΣ (G2316) Бог. Это слово поставлено вперед как подлежащее, а не praed.; Бог является действующим лицом (Meyer), ΓΆΡ (G1063) ибо. Указывает на причину всего предыдущего стиха, одновременно вводя ст...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 2147 GOD ASSISTS THE DILIGENT Philippians 2:12. _Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure_. THERE...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED,— If St. Paul's discourse, here is read with attention, it will be found, that having dispatched his argument from the example of Christ, he comes now, to apply it to the purpose...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    OUTLINE OF 1:27-2:18 D. Exhortation to a worthy manner of life; Philippians 1:27-30; Philippians 2:1-18 1. Plea for steadfast striving; Philippians 1:27-30 a

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    12. 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; 13. FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKETH...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. FOR. Encouragement to work: "For it is...

  • Concordant Commentary on the New Testament by A. E. Knoch

    _PARTICIPATION IN THE EVANGEL_ 27 The citizenship or enfranchisement here referred to is celestial, not terrestrial. THE PHILIPPIANS' SUFFERING 29 It is our privilege to enjoy the sufferings which...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    2:13 works (c-6) working (c-14) Internal operation of power, though seen in results, as Matthew 14:2 ; Colossians 1:29 . Not as 'work out' in ver. 12....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LETTER OF JOY Paul’s Letter to the Philippians _HILDA BRIGHT_ CHAPTER 2 PAUL’S APPEAL FOR UNITY AND *HUMILITY 2:1-4 V1 You are united with Christ and that encourages you. You know the comfort of...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    [5. Exhortation and Commendation (Philippians 2:12). (1) EXHORTATION TO WORK OUT THEIR SALVATION through the in working of God, and so to be lights in the world, and the glory of the Apostle, even i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO. — In this famous paradox St. Paul calls on men to work by their own will, just because only God can grant them power both to will and to do....

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER 8 WORKING AND SHINING. Philippians 2:12 (R.V.) AFTER his great appeal to the mind of Christ, the Apostle can pursue his practical object; and he can do so with a certain tranquillity, confid...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    ὁ must certainly be omitted with all the best authorities. “For _God_ is He that works,” etc. The emphasis lies on Θεός for two reasons. First, in the matter of attaining salvation they have to do _no...

  • Expositor's Greek Testament (Nicoll)

    THE CHRISTIAN LIFE TO BE LED IN A SPIRIT OF AWE AND WATCHFULNESS, AS IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S WORKING. On Philippians 2:12-13 see two important discussions, Schaeder, _Greifswalder Studien_, pp. 231 2...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    LIGHTS IN THE WORLD Philippians 2:12 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...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The apostle now urged those to whom he wrote to fill his joy to the full. In order to do this he indicated two causative facts which suggested two resulting experiences, and then referred to conduct i...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    GOD WORKS IN CHRISTIANS When Christians submit their lives to God's will, it can be said that God works in them (1 Peter 2:13). The Almighty works in them through his great plan for man's salvation. ...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    (5) For it is God which worketh in you both (n) to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. (5) A most sure and grounded argument against pride, because we have nothing in us praiseworthy, but it comes...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _ It is God who worketh in you both to will and to accomplish. We can neither have a will, nor begin, nor fulfil any thing of ourselves, in order to a reward in heaven. (Witham) --- Our free-will is n...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    (12) В¶ 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. (13) For it is God which work...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is no epistle in the New Testament which gives so little space to the development of. doctrine as this to the Philippians. Need it be said that it has not the less its own proper office on that...

  • James Nisbet's Church Pulpit Commentary

    _RELIGION AND HEALTH_ ‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.’ Php_2:12-13 You may divide the world rou...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    13_It is God that worketh_. This is the true engine for bringing down all haughtiness — this the sword for putting an end to all pride, when we are taught that we are utterly nothing, and can do nothi...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    But this, too, produced its effects. The apostle desired that their joy should be full, and that unity among the Philippians should be perfect; for his absence had allowed some seeds of disunion and d...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU,.... Which is both an encouragement to persons conscious of their own weakness to work, as before exhorted to; see Haggai 2:4; and a reason and argument for humility...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of _his_ good pleasure. Ver. 13. _For it is God which worketh_] Therefore work out, &c. As _acti agentes, moti moventes, _ as the inferior or...

  • Justin Edwards' Family Bible New Testament (1851)

    WORKETH IN YOU; influencing you by his Spirit to do what is pleasing to him. In order to be saved, men must work out their own salvation by faith, love, and obedience, as God has appointed; and the fa...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO DO OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE....

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE APPLICATION OF THE ADMONITION TO TRUE WORKS OF SANCTIFICATION. Philippians 2:12...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    In the first chapter we have seen that Christ is the very principle of life that motivates the apostle in whatever circumstances, - and so indeed it should be for all believers. Chapter 2 now brings C...

  • Manly Luscombe Commentary on New Testament

    The Ins and Outs of Christian Living 1 Peter 2:12-18 1. KEY WORDS 12 Obeyed, work, salvation, trembling 13 Will, pleasure 14 Murmuring, disputing 15 Blameless, harmless, rebuke, crooked, pervers...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    “FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKETH IN YOU BOTH TO WILL AND TO WORK, FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE” “For”: Here is incentive for Christians to "work out their own salvation". “GOD WHO WORKETH”: The present tense is he...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    12-18 We must be diligent in the use of all the means which lead to our salvation, persevering therein to the end. With great care, lest, with all our advantages, we should come short. Work out your...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    That they might not be negligent in working out their salvation with humility, from any conceit or carnal confidence any might have that they could believe and repent when they pleased, imagining thei...

  • NT Verse References in the Ante-Nicene Fathers

    Origen de Principiis Book III in another passage also, "that to will and to do are of God: "[68] Origen de Principiis Book III The declarations, too, in other places, that "both to will and to do a...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Php_2:13 for G1063 is G2076 (G5748) God G2316 who G3588 works G1754 (G5723) in G1722 you G5213 both G2532 will...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    THE CALL TO UNITY AND LOVE IN THE WAY THAT HAD BEEN EXEMPLIFIED BY JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF AND WHICH GOD WILL WORK WITHIN THEM AS THEY GIVE ATTENTION TO EXPERIENCING THEIR SALVATION TO THE FULL (PHILIPPI...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    AS A RESULT OF THEIR PARTICIPATION WITH CHRIST IN HIS DEATH, RESURRECTION AND EXALTATION THEY ARE TO PUT EVERY EFFORT INTO TOGETHER ‘WORKING OUT' THE SALVATION THAT GOD WAS WORKING WITHIN THEM SO THAT...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘For it is God who works within you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.' And they are not to think that they are on their own in this. This verse is crucial to the whole injunction (the s...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    Philippians 2:13. FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH IN YOU. Thus only can your work have a beginning. The first movement comes from God. He bestows His quickening gift, and then you may improve what He has...

  • Philip Schaff's Popular Commentary on the NT (4 vols)

    _Exhortations to advance in the way of salvation, to be lights in the world and a joy to the apostle,_ 12-18. Having set before them the perfect example of Christ as an incentive to unity of mind, the...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Philippians 2:12 I. A Christian man has his whole salvation already accomplished for him in Christ, and yet he is to work it out. Work as well as believe, and in the daily practice of faithful obedien...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Philippians 2:1. If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having t...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Philippians 2:1. _if there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Christ, the believer's pattern, rejoicing in lowly service. The outworking of inworked salvation. The apostolic example. CHARACTERS: Christ, Holy Spirit, God, Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus. C...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Philippians 2:1. _If there be therefore any consolation in Christ._ Brethren who are joined in the Lord, professing the same faith, and despised of the world, are expected to comfort and encourage one...

  • The Bible Study New Testament

    BECAUSE GOD. After stressing personal responsibility in Philippians 2:12, Paul shows God at work in us. _Johnson_ says: "God works in the converted person by his word and Spirit. His Spirit is a helpe...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _If there be therefore any consolation in Christ _ CHRISTIAN UNITY I. The doctrine of Christian unity. 1. This unity is inward and consists of harmonious spiritual feeling. (1) It can only subsist...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling--Here is _ _ I._ Hope for all. II. Help for all. III. Work for all. IV. A kind word for all. (_J. Lyth, D. D._) SALVATION I. Is your own con...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Wherefore my beloved, as ye have always obeyed _ I. The work. 1. Work out your own salvation. 2. In conformity with apostolic teaching. 3. Under all circumstances. II. The means. 1. Divine pow...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILIPPIANS—NOTE ON PHILIPPIANS 2:12 With the breathtaking portrayal of Christ before them (vv. Philippians 2:5), Paul exhorts the Philippians to demonstrate the same faith and obedience

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    PHILIPPIANS—NOTE ON PHILIPPIANS 2:1 Encouragement to Humble Service. Paul calls the Philippians to unite in love and humility (vv. Philippians 2:1), following

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES_ Philippians 2:12. YE HAVE ALWAYS OBEYED.—Obedience describes the attitude of the mind of these Philippians in presence of the commanding truths of the gospel: “Obedien...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION PHILIPPIANS 2:1 IF THERE BE THEREFORE, ANY CONSOLATION IN CHRIST. Mark the fervor of the apostle. Ὅρα πῶς λιπαρῶς πῶς σφοδρῶς πῶς μετὰ συμπαωείας πολλῆς (Chrysostom). He appeals...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if [there is] any comfort of love, if [there is] any fellowship of the Spirit, if [there is] any bowels [compassion] and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, tha...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 29:14; 1 Kings 8:58; 1 Peter 1:3; 2 Chronicles 30:12;...

  • Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament (4 Volume Set)

    For it is God which worketh in you. Completing and guarding the previous statement. In you, not among you. Worketh [ε ν ε ρ γ ω ν]. See on Mark 6:14; James 5:16. The verb means effectual working. In t...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    HOW CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE Philippians 2:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We were told that when Minister Wu, of China, was addressing an American audience in Washington, D. C., upon comparative religions, he s...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    For it is God — God alone, who is with you, though I am not. That worketh in you according to his good pleasure — Not for any merit of yours. Yet his influences are not to supersede, but to encourage,...

Continues after advertising

Old Testament