PHP 2:12-18

Lights in the World

12So 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 own salvation with fear and trembling,

13for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14Do all things without murmurings and disputings,

15so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

16holding fast the word of life — so that in the day of Christ I may boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

17But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

18And in the same way you also rejoice and share your joy with me.

In the world it was spoken into

In Philippi, a Roman colony, the audience would have understood 'working out your own salvation' within a framework of communal responsibility and divine agency. carried connotations of deliverance and preservation, not just spiritual but also communal and physical. The phrase 'with fear and trembling' reflected the gravity of their task in a society shaped by Roman imperial power and local cultic practices. The injunction to 'do all things without murmurings and disputings' addressed the honor-shame dynamics of Greco-Roman civic life, where public harmony was prized. The metaphor of 'shining as lights in the world' evoked both Jewish apocalyptic imagery and the Roman civic ideal of moral exemplarity. The reference to being 'poured out as a drink offering' resonated with Roman libation rituals, suggesting a sacrificial devotion to their communal witness.

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How other translations render this

PHP 2:12

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.
BSB: Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
Koinōnos: 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 own salvation with fear and trembling,

PHP 2:13

KJV: For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
BSB: For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Koinōnos: for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

PHP 2:14

KJV: Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
BSB: Do everything without complaining or arguing,
Koinōnos: Do all things without murmurings and disputings,

PHP 2:15

KJV: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
BSB: so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world
Koinōnos: so that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

PHP 2:16

KJV: Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
BSB: as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.
Koinōnos: holding fast the word of life — so that in the day of Christ I may boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.

PHP 2:17

KJV: Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
BSB: But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.
Koinōnos: But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with all of you.

PHP 2:18

KJV: For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
BSB: So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.
Koinōnos: And in the same way you also rejoice and share your joy with me.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

PHP 2:12

salvation:The word translated 'salvation' here refers to deliverance or preservation, often with a sense of being rescued from danger or harm, and can encompass both physical and spiritual well-being.

PHP 2:13

the [One]:The term used here for 'the One' carries the sense of being actively at work or operating, often implying a divine or supernatural agency that is powerfully effective.

PHP 2:15

innocent,:The word translated 'innocent' suggests being pure, unmixed, or unadulterated, like pure water or unalloyed metal, and when applied to people, it means being free from harmful intent or corruption.

PHP 2:17

I am being poured out:The phrase 'I am being poured out' evokes the imagery of a libation, an offering of liquid poured out in a ritual act of devotion or sacrifice, indicating a complete and sacrificial giving of oneself.