^2:12So 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,¹⁵^2:13for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God. ^2:14Do everything without grumbling or arguing, ^2:15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world¹⁶^2:16by holding on to¹⁷ 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. ^2:17But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you. ^2:18And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.

Models for Ministry

^2:19Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you. ^2:20For there is no one here like him who will readily demonstrate his deep concern for you.¹⁸^2:21Others are busy with their own concerns, not those of Jesus Christ. ^2:22But you know his qualifications, that like a son working with his father, he served with me in advancing the gospel. ^2:23So I hope to send him as soon as I know more about my situation, ^2:24though I am confident in the Lord that I too will be coming to see you¹⁹ soon.

^2:25But for now²⁰ I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother,²¹ coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger²² and minister²³ to me in my need.²⁴^2:26Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. ^2:27In fact he became so ill that he nearly died.²⁵ But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief. ^2:28Therefore I am all the more eager to send him,²⁶ so that when you see him again you can rejoice²⁷ and I can be free from anxiety. ^2:29So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, ^2:30since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.²⁸

Read in Logos

Philippians 2:12: 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 …

Footnotes

15 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 [], ; 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.
16 Or “as stars in the universe.”
17 Or “holding out, holding forth.”
18 Grk “For I have no one who is like-minded who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”
19 The words “to see you” are not in the Greek text, but are implied, and are supplied in the translation for clarity.
20 Grk “But.” The temporal notion (“for now”) is implied in the epistolary aorist (“I have considered”), for Epaphroditus was dispatched with this letter to the Philippians.
21 Grk “my brother” instead of “For he is my brother.” Verse 25 constitutes one sentence in Greek, with “my brother …” functioning appositionally to “Epaphroditus.” The reason why Paul refers to Epaphroditus as his brother, coworker, fellow soldier, etc., is because he wants to build up Epaphroditus in the eyes of the Philippians, since Paul is sending him back instead of Timothy. This accent on Epaphroditus’ character and service is implied in the translation “For he is …”
22 Grk “apostle.”
23 The Greek word translated “minister” here is λειτουργός (leitourgos).
24 Grk “servant of my need.”
25 Grk “For he became ill to the point of death.”
26 Grk “I have sent him to you with earnestness.” But the epistolary aorist needs to be translated as a present tense with this adverb due to English stylistic considerations.
27 Or “when you see him you can rejoice again.”
28 Grk “make up for your lack of service to me.”