Philippians 2:12

Lights in the World

2:12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, ¹ 

Philippians 2:16

2:16 by holding on to ²  the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

Philippians 3:13

3:13 Brothers and sisters, ³  I do not consider myself to have attained this. Instead I am single-minded: ⁴  Forgetting the things that are behind and reaching out for the things that are ahead,

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¹ tn Grk “with fear and trembling.” The Greek words φόβος and τρόμος both imply fear in a negative sense (L&N 25.251 and 16.6 respectively) while the former can also refer to respect and awe for deity (L&N 53.59). Paul’s use of the terms in other contexts refers to “awe and reverence in the presence of God” (P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 284; see discussion on 282-84). The translation “awe and reverence” was chosen to portray the attitude the believer should have toward God as they consider their behavior in light of God working through Jesus Christ (2:6-11) and in the believer’s life (2:13) to accomplish their salvation.

² tn Or “holding out, holding forth.”

³ tn Grk “brothers.” See note on the phrase “brothers and sisters” in 1:12.

⁴ tn Grk “But this one thing (I do).”