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, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2.12, 13).

I have believed for a long long time that this was a warning (a mild one but still) followed by a “calvinist” point about God’s sovereignty. The calvinist point is still there, but there is nothing in the context that allows me to think this is a real warning. Consider that this is really a restatement of what he has said before:

I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (1.6).

Paul is encouraging the Philippians to reach their appointed destiny (collectively, by the way, the pronouns are plural) by encouraging them that it is theirs by God’s grace.

The “fear and trembling” then is simply the attitude of reverence and respect for God rather than only caring about what Paul or other men might witness. Whether Paul is there or not the point is that God is there.

I distinctly remember a professor lecturing in this direction when I was in seminary, but I resisted it. My loss. I’m glad I’m finally teaching this in a Bible study so I could rethink it.