New International Version
Philippians 2:13
13for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Context of Philippians 2:13
11and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12Therefore, 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, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky
Read all of Philippians 2Philippians 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 in Judah the hand of God was on the people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following the word of the Lord.
- Isaiah 26:12Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
- Jeremiah 31:33“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. 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 3:27To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.
- Acts 11:21The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.
- Hebrews 13:21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
- James 1:16Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.
- 1 Kings 8:58May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors.
- 1 Chronicles 29:14“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.
- Ezra 1:1In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:
- Ezra 7:27Praise be to the Lord, the God of our ancestors, who has put it into the king’s heart to bring honor to the house of the Lord in Jerusalem in this way
- Nehemiah 2:4The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
- Psalms 110:3Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.
- Psalms 119:36Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.
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
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
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