English Standard Version
Philippians 2:12
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
Philippians 2:12 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore, my beloved, as you 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;
- New Living Translation (NLT)Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Context of Philippians 2:12
10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14Do all things without grumbling or disputing,
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 2:12 word by word
Ὥστε, ἀγαπητοί μου, καθὼς πάντοτε ὑπηκούσατε, μὴ ὡς ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ μου μόνον ἀλλὰ νῦν πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἐν τῇ ἀπουσίᾳ μου, μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whereforeὥστεhōste · soG5620
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- ye haveὑπακούωhupakouō · to obeyG5219
- alwaysπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
- notμήmē · notG3361
- asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- presenceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- presenceπαρουσίαparousia · comingG3952
- onlyμόνονmonon · onlyG3440
- butἀλλάalla · butG235
- nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- muchπολύςpolus polos · muchG4183
- moreμᾶλλονmallon · moreG3123
- absenceἀπουσίαapousia · absenceG666
- work outκατεργάζομαιkatergazomai · to workout/produceG2716
- your ownἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- salvationσωτηρίαsōtēria · salvationG4991
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- fearφόβοςphobos · fearG5401
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- tremblingτρόμοςtromos · tremblingG5156
Cross-references for Philippians 2:12
- Philippians 4:1Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
- 1 Corinthians 4:14I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.
- 1 Peter 2:11Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
- Philippians 1:5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
- Philippians 3:13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
- Proverbs 10:16The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
- Proverbs 13:4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
- Matthew 11:12From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force.
- Luke 13:23And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,
- John 6:27Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal."
- Romans 2:7to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life;
- 1 Corinthians 9:24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
- Galatians 6:7Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.
- 1 Thessalonians 1:3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Hebrews 4:11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
Commentaries on Philippians 2:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12As ye have always obeyed - Continue to act on the same principles and from the same motives; having the same disposition which was in Christ; laboring so as to promote his glory. Work out your own salvation - Go on, walking by the same rule, and minding the same thing, till your salvation be completed: till, filled with love to God and man, ye walk unblamably in all his testimonies, having your fruit unto holiness, and your end everlasting life. With fear…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed - The Philippians had from the beginning manifested a remarkable readiness to show respect to the apostle, and to listen to his teaching. This readiness he more than once refers to and commends. He still appeals to them, and urges them to follow his counsels, that they might secure their salvation. Now much more in my absence - Though they had been obedient when he was with them, yet circumstances had…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. 12as you have always obeyed (see John 3:36; Romans 1:5): Believers must consider God's judgment like everyone else (compare 1 Corinthians 3:10–13). Therefore, they should live obediently before God, with deep respect and fear.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. Wherefore--Seeing that we have in Christ such a specimen of glory resulting from "obedience" (Php 2:8) and humiliation, see that ye also be "obedient," and so "your salvation" shall follow your obedience. as ye have ... obeyed--"even as ye have been obedient," namely, to God, as Jesus was "obedient" unto God (see on Php 2:8). not as, &c.--"not as if" it were a matter to be done "in my presence only, but now (as things are) much more (with more…Read the comment
Topics related to Philippians 2:12
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries