Philippians 2:12

The Philippian Christians had been obedient to the Lord and to His servant Paul in the past (cf. Philippians 1:27). Even though Paul was no longer with them and might be unable to return to them, he wanted them to continue to obey. The Greek word translated "obey" (hypakouein) contains the ideas of hearing, especially the divine word as proclaimed (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8), and submitting to what is heard. [Note: Hawthorne, p. 98.] It was even more important that they purpose to obey with Paul absent since his presence among them provided a measure of external motivation for them.

Specifically they were to work out their salvation. Note that Paul did not say "work for your salvation." We obtain salvation by receiving it as a gift (Ephesians 2:8), but having received it freely we have a responsibility to cultivate it. The apostle had in mind the present aspect of our salvation, sanctification, in which we are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9; cf. Titus 3:8). [Note: See Joseph C. Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings, pp. 114-16; Robert N. Wilkin, "Working Out Your Salvation," Grace Evangelical Society News 8:3 (May-June 1993):2-3; and Fee, Paul’s Letter . . ., p. 235.] In justification and glorification, God does all the work (Ephesians 2:9; Judges 1:24). We work out our salvation by keeping in step with the Holy Spirit who leads us in the will of God (Galatians 5:16). In the context the particular aspect of sanctification in view involves achieving unity through humility.

"Paul is not here concerned with the eternal welfare of the soul of the individual. The individual believer is not now being called ’to self-activity, to the active pursuit of the will of God . . . to a personal application of salvation’ (Müller). Rather the context suggests that this command is to be understood in a corporate sense. The entire church, which had grown spiritually ill (Philippians 2:3-4), is charged now with taking whatever steps are necessary to restore itself to health and wholeness." [Note: Hawthorne, p. 98. Müller refers to J. J. Müller, The Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to Philemon. Cf. Martin, p. 111.]

"Perhaps it is best to see both the outworking of personal salvation and the corporate salvation or deliverance of the whole assembly from whatever held them back from experiencing God’s best." [Note: Lightner, "Philippians," p. 655.]

As we work out our own sanctification, we must remember certain things. We serve a holy God, we have a strong and wise adversary, and we are weak and dependent on God for all that we need. Such awareness will produce the attitude of fear and trembling that Paul advocated. This attitude is not inconsistent with joy and confidence in the Lord.