Philippians 2:15

By working out their own salvation with fear and trembling, rather than with grumbling and disputing, the Philippians would show themselves to be blameless and innocent (pure, NIV). "Blameless" (Gr. amemptos) means without blame (not culpable; cf. Philippians 3:6) because we deal with our sins as we should. It does not mean unblemished (Gr. amomos) nor unblameable (Gr. anegkletos and anepileptos). [Note: See Richard C. Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament, pp. 354-56.] "Innocent" or "pure" (Gr. akeraioi) means unadulterated, unmixed with anything defiling (cf. Romans 16:19).

Paul then added the idea of being unblemished (Gr. amomos). The children of God are to be free from defilement and so not chargeable with justifiable criticism even though we live in the midst of a twisted and perverted generation (cf. Deuteronomy 32:5). The word "generation" (Gr. geneas) can refer to a group of people several generations long, not just to one generation of people. [Note: A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, s.v. "genea," p. 112.] Here it probably refers to unbelievers as a whole (cf. Matthew 17:17; Acts 2:40).

Christians are lights in a dark world (Matthew 5:14; cf. Daniel 12:3). The Light of the World now indwells us (John 8:12). Paul wanted his readers to bear a strong witness rather than having their light shaded by sin or uncleanness (cf. Matthew 5:15-16). Light is a good illustration of something that does what it has to do by being what it ought to be. [Note: Motyer, p. 133.]