Fear and trembling. Compare 2 Cor. vii. 15; Eph. vi. 5. Not slavish terror, but wholesome, serious caution. ‘ This fear is self-distrust; it is tenderness of conscience; it is vigi- lance against temptation ; it is the fear which inspiration op- poses to high-mindedness in the admonition ‘be not high- minded but fear. It is taking heed lest we fall; it is a constant apprehension of the deceitfulness of the heart, and of the insidiousness and power of inward corruption. It is the caution and circumspection which timidly shrinks from what- ever would offend and dishonor God and the Saviour. And
438 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. IL
these the child of God will feel and exercise the more he rises above the enfeebling, disheartening, distressing influence of the fear which hath torment. Well might Solomon say of such fear, ‘happy is the man that feareth alway ’” (Wardlaw “ On Proverbs,” xxviii., 14). Compare 1 Pet. i. 17.
13. For it is God which worketh in you. Completing and guarding the previous statement. Jn you, not among you. Worketh (évepyav). See on Mark vi. 14; Jas. v. 16. The verb means effectual working. In the active voice, to be at work. In the middle voice, as here (used only by James and Paul, and only of things), ¢o display one’s actwity ; show one’s self operative. Compare Eph. ili. 20.
To will and to do (76 Sérew Kai 7d éevepyetv). Lit., the well- ing and the doing. Both are from God, and are of one piece, so that he who wells inevitably does. The willing which is wrought by God, by its own nature and pressure, works out into action. “ We will, but God works the will in us. We work, therefore, but God works the working in us” (Augus- tine). For ¢o do, Rev. substitutes to work, thus preserving the harmony in the Greek between “God which worketh” and “to work.”
Of His good pleasure (imép tis evdoxias). Rev., better, for His, ete. Lit., for the sake of ; in order to subserve. See 1 Tim. ii. 4.
14. Murmurings (yoyyuouev). See on Jude 16; John vi. 41, Compare 1 Cor. x. 10.
Disputings (dcaroyouov). See on Mark vii. 21. It is doubtful whether dzsputings is a legitimate meaning. The kindred verb d:adoy/fouas is invariably used in the sense of to reason or discuss, either with another or in one’s own mind, Matt. xvi. 7; xxi. 25; Mark ii. 6; Luke xii. 17. The noun is sometimes rendered thoughts, as Matt. xv. 19; Mark vii. 21; but with the same idea underlying it, of a suspicion or doubt, causing inward discussion. See 1 Tim. ii. 8. Better here questionings or doubtings. See on Rom. xiv. 1. The mur.
Cu. IL] THE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANS. 439
muring is the moral, the doubting the intellectual rebellion against God.
15. May be—harmless (yévnoSe—axépaior). May be is rather may prove or show yourselves to be. Harmless, lit., un- mixed. See on Matt. x. 16. Better, guileless. Blameless in the sight of others; gweeless in your own hearts.
Sons of God (réxva). Rev., better, chaldren. See on John i. 12. Compare Deut. xxxii. 5.
Without rebuke (duwpa). Rev., correctly, without blemish. See on Col. i. 22. The word is epexegetical of the two preced- ing epithets, unblemished in reputation and in reality.
Crooked and perverse (cxorlas—buectpappevns). Crooked, see on untoward, Acts ii. 40; froward, 1 Pet. ii.18. Per- verse, lit., warped, twisted. See on Matt. xvii. 17; Luke xxiii. 14.
Ve shine (daivecSe). Rev., more correctly, ye are seen. Compare Matt. xxiv. 27; Apoc. xviii. 23, A. V., where the same error occurs. Shine would require the verb in the active voice, as John i. 5; v. 35.
Lights (dworfpes). Only here and Apoc. xxi. 11, see note. Properly, Zwminaries. So Rev., in margin. Generally of the heavenly bodies. See Gen. i. 14, 16, Sept.