“work out your salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
This short sentence from Paul’s letter to the Philippian church has often been misused by those who have sought to teach that we are responsible for saving ourselves through our own works. Sometimes it is also used by those claiming the Bible contradicts itself – as evidence of Paul contradicting his clear teaching in other places that we are saved by faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9; etc).
Because of these wrong views, some Bible versions have changed the translation of the verse to try to avoid such misunderstandings. For example, the New Living Translation has “Work hard to show the results of your salvation” which might be close to Paul’s intent, but is not what the verse actually says.
But the answer to the problem is simple enough when we look at the verse in context. Paul was telling the Philippians that now he is no longer with them, they must take on the responsibility of their own spiritual lives. This is why he wrote, directly before the words in question: “Therefore, 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” (verse 12, emphasis added), or, as the ESV translates the verse: “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (emphasis added).
Paul is certainly not intending his readers to think they somehow save themselves. In fact, in the very next verse he says “for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (verse 13).
Paul’s use of the phrase “your own salvation” is strongly emphatic. He was urging the Philippians to learn to walk by themselves without his support – instead of leaning on his ongoing presence and personal guidance. Paul was simply urging them to develop spiritual maturity to enable them to walk by themselves.
There is also, of course, an aspect of these words in which we do “work out our salvation” – not the actual saving of ourselves from sin and death, but the application of our wills to choose the salvation that is offered to us. As Jesus himself said, we must strive to enter in at the narrow gate (Luke 13:24) and in this sense we do “work” to choose to repent and turn from sin while accepting Christ as our savior – even though it is God who leads us to that point (Romans 2:4).
In saying “work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” Paul was simply urging the Philippians to understand that they should continue to grow even without his presence and direct help, and that they needed to take responsibility for choosing to do what was necessary for spiritual growth.
