Philippians 2:12

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.

Wherefore - seeing that we have in Christ such a specimen of glory resulting from humble 'obedience' (Philippians 2:8) see that ye also be "obedient" to God; so 'your salvation' shall follow your obedience.

As [ kathoos (G2531 ): even as] ye have always obeyed - God; as Jesus was "obedient" unto God (note, Philippians 2:8).

Not [ mee (G3361 )] as ... - join with "work out:" "not as" a matter to be done "in my presence only, but now much more (with more zeal) in my absence" (because without my support and eye).

Work out - carry out to full perfection [ katergazesthe (G2716)] (Romans 7:18, 'But how to work out that which is good I find not;' Ephesians 6:13). "Salvation" is 'worked in' (Philippians 2:13; Ephesians 1:20) believers by the Spirit, who enables them through faith to be justified once for all; but it needs, as a progressive work, to be 'worked out' by obedience, through the help of the same Spirit, unto perfection (2 Peter 1:5; 2 Peter 1:3). The Christian neither, like the formalist, rests in means, without looking to the end, and to the Holy Spirit, who alone can make the means effectual; nor, like the fanatic, hopes to attain the end without the means.

Your own - emphatic. Now that I am not present to further your salvation, "work out your own salvation" yourselves the more carefully. Think not this work cannot go on because I am absent; "for (Philippians 2:13) it is God which worketh in you," etc. In this case adopt a rule different from the former (Philippians 2:4), but resting on the same principle of "lowliness of mind" (Philippians 2:3); namely, 'look each on his own things,' instead of "disputings" with others (Philippians 2:14).

Salvation - which is in "Jesus" (Philippians 2:10), as His name (meaning God-Saviour) implies.

With fear and trembling - the feeling enjoined on" servants," to accompany their "obedience" (Ephesians 6:5; 1 Corinthians 2:3; 2 Corinthians 7:15). See that, as "servants" to God, after the example of Christ, ye be so 'with the fear and trembling' which becomes servants: not slavish fear, but trembling anxiety to please your Holy Master, and to reach the goal (1 Corinthians 9:26; Hebrews 4:1), resulting from distrust of your own sufficiency, and from consciousness that all depends on the power of God, "who worketh both to will and to do" (Romans 11:20; Luke 13:34; John 6:29; 2 Corinthians 3:5).