Philippians 2:13

Philippians 2:13 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
• New International Version (NIV)for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
• New King James Version (NKJV)for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Context of Philippians 2:13

11and that every tongue will confess and openly acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord (sovereign God), to the glory of God the Father. 12So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. 14Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God], 15so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a [morally] crooked and [spiritually] perverted generation, among whom you are seen as bright lights [beacons shining out clearly] in the world [of darkness],

Philippians 2:13 word by word

θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• it isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• workethἐνεργέωenergeō · be activeG1754
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• youσύsu · youG4771
• bothκαίkai · andG2532
• to willθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ofὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• good pleasureεὐδοκίαeudokia · goodwillG2107

Cross-references for Philippians 2:13

• 2 Chronicles 30:12Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them one heart to do that which the king and the officials had commanded by the word of the Lord.
• Isaiah 26:12Lord, You will establish peace for us, Since You have also performed for us all that we have done.
• Jeremiah 31:33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the Lord, “I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they will be My people.
• Jeremiah 32:38They will be My people, and I will be their God;
• John 3:27John replied, “A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing at all] unless it has been granted to him from heaven [for there is no other source than the sovereign will of God].
• Acts 11:21And the hand (the power and presence) of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord [for salvation, accepting and drawing near to Jesus as Messiah and Savior].
• 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are sufficiently qualified in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency and qualifications come from God.
• Hebrews 13:21equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
• James 1:16Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters.
• 1 Kings 8:58that He may guide our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways [following Him] and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His precepts which He commanded our fathers.
• 1 Chronicles 29:14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.
• Ezra 1:1Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia [that is, the first year he ruled Babylon], in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah [the prophet], the Lord stirred up (put in motion) the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:
• Ezra 7:27Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers [said Ezra], who put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn and glorify the house of the Lord in Jerusalem,
• Nehemiah 2:4The king said to me, “What do you request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven.
• Psalms 110:3Your people will offer themselves willingly [to participate in Your battle] in the day of Your power; In the splendor of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, Your young men are to You as the dew.
• Psalms 119:36Incline my heart to Your testimonies And not to dishonest gain and envy.

Commentaries on Philippians 2:13

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 13For 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 grace in vain; because he worketh in you, therefore work with him, and work out your own salvation. To will and to do - . The power to will and the power to act must necessarily come from God, who is the author both of the soul and body, and of all their powers and energies…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 13For 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 if God works “in us to will and to do,” there can be no need of our making an effort, and that there would be no use in it. If God does all the work, say they, why should we not patiently sit still, and wait until He puts forth His power and accomplishes in…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 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 salvation, for it is God who worketh in you. This encourages us to do our utmost, because our labour shall not be in vain: we must still depend on the grace of God. The working of God's grace in us, is to quicken and engage our endeavours. God's…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 13For it is God who works in you: God gives believers the strength and energy to live their lives (see John 15:5; 1 Corinthians 12:6; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:13). The desire and ability to do what pleases God come from God.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1313. For--encouragement to work: "For it is God who worketh in you," always present with you, though I be absent. It is not said, "Work out your own salvation, though it is God," &c., but, "because it is God who," &c. The will, and the power to work, being first instalments of His grace, encourage us to make full proof of, and carry out to the end, the "salvation" which He has first "worked," and is still "working in" us, enabling us to "work it out." "Our…Read the comment

Topics related to Philippians 2:13

• Blessing
• Commandments
• Grace of God
• Partnership
• Righteousness
• Works

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Apostle
• Companion
• Disputing
• Lowliness
• Nigh
• Presently
• Providence
• Vainglory

Commentaries on Philippians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings