So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling…
Philippians 2:12
This verse is sometimes taken to mean “Work hard for your salvation, always terrified that you aren’t doing enough and God is going to zap you.” Not so quick!
For one thing, Paul is writing to the church at Philippi, and has already begun the letter by praising their faithfulness. He spends rest of the letter encouraging them to continue to grow in their faith, despite hardships both he (in jail) and they (being persecuted) are experiencing. It would hardly be considered encouragement to suddenly tell them “work harder or you’re doomed”! He must have had something else in mind.
The entire short letter (about 2200 words, 12 minutes read time) describes the Christian life as a cooperative process with God. He supplies the power and the drive; we react by digging in and actively participating along with Him; the result is our growing ever closer to the best life possible.
Make the most out of the gift that has already been given.
Here is one comparison I can think of…
Imagine that I want a college degree, but cannot afford it. A kind benefactor generously pays for the entire thing. They provide tuition, housing, books, meals, and spending money for as long as it takes. No strings attached. They just choose to make my degree possible because they love me and want me to have what I need for a successful career. Yippee!
Now imagine that I cruise through that time doing the bare minimum to get by. I attend class (most of the time, anyway!), but I spend more time partying than studying. But I do manage to (barely) pass the classes and eventually get my diploma. Have I gotten the full value of my benefactor’s gift?
Finally, imagine an alternative. I am grateful to be given the opportunity that I couldn’t provide for myself, and would not have been able to have otherwise. I want to get the most that I can out of it. I sit at the front and pay close attention in every class. I spend long hours studying on my own, researching even beyond the assigned material. I discuss every facet of each subject with other motivated students, and drive the professors crazy with my questions. I end up with not only a diploma, but also with deeply internalized knowledge that will have ongoing impact on my life. Same benefactor, same result on paper…but much greater value to me because of what I put into it.
Paul is encouraging the saints at Philippi to put in the work that will result in the most value to them. Their Benefactor is already giving the “diploma”: Jesus has already provided their salvation. But Paul doesn’t want them to be satisfied with the minimum. He wants them to fully participate in the process that allows them to get the most out of it.
We’re not working alone. God is working WITH us.
My college analogy breaks down in one important way, however. In the analogy, once the benefactor provides the financial means, the rest of the work is up to me. In our faith, though, God is right in there working alongside us. He doesn’t just give once and then go away and leave us on our own. He remains our Partner, intertwining His efforts with ours.
Look throughout the letter at this mix of God and us, and God in us.
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now. For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:3-6 (my emphasis)
I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus…forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12-14 (my emphasis)
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13 (my emphasis)
Especially, look at the end of the sentence for our starting verse. While we “work out our salvation with fear and trembling“, something else is happening:
…for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13 (my emphasis)
It’s not terror; it’s simply respect.
As I look at that scary phrase “with fear and trembling”, it occurs to me to wonder: Afraid of what? A lightning bolt from Heaven? Being sent to Hell? Not being good enough?
Paul uses that same phrase in two other letters. In 2 Corinthians 7:15, it refers to how the church there had received Paul’s emissary Titus. It is in the middle of a paragraph (2 Corinthians 7:13-16) praising the people in Corinth for how they had taken the scolding of his first letter to them to heart, and had improved dramatically (See 2 Corinthians 7:6-12).
The other use of this phrase was in Ephesians 6:5, telling Christian slaves to obey their masters. The rest of the paragraph (Ephesians 6:5-8) tells why: Because all work is ultimately done for God rather than the human master, and will be rewarded by Him.
In all three letters, Paul is using “fear and trembling” to mean “respect, reverence, and desire to please someone you love”. He is not telling his readers to cower in terror, afraid of making any wrong move. He is telling them to do their best, because God deserves it. They love Him and want to honor Him. They should dread the thought of letting Him down. But there is no implication that lightning bolts are on standby!
It’s a lifelong process.
Paul said that he doesn’t consider himself to have “arrived” yet, either (Philippians 3:12). As he encourages the Philippians to do, he will continue his efforts to grow even though he (and they) already has “the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:9). As they — and we — practice things like rejoicing in the Lord, bringing requests to Him, and focussing on the good that He provides, the result will be peace beyond comprehension…and the God of that peace being with us on the journey (Philippians 4:4-9).
Note: Similar articles on this site include “Will of God” and “Cleaning All The Corners“.