Bible Strands
Philippians 2:13
For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Philippians, placing this verse between the command to work out salvation (v. 12) and the command to act without grumbling (v. 14). It functions as the theological ground for both.
The words — ἐνεργῶν (energōn), "working," carries the prefix ἐν- over the root ἐργ- (work), denoting an internal, effective energizing rather than mere external assistance. It is the same root behind English "energy" and "synergy."
The thread — Hebrews 13:21 prays that God will "equip you with every good thing to do His will"; 2 Corinthians 3:5 states that competence "comes from God"; 2 Timothy 1:9 grounds salvation in "His own purpose and grace."
Why it lands — It removes the burden of self-generated will from the reader: the "fear and trembling" of v. 12 is not the terror of a task you must power alone. The command still stands, but its source is identified as God's prior and ongoing work in you.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Cross-references
- Hebrews 13:21 equip you with every good thing to do His will. And may He accomplish in us what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God.
- 2 Timothy 1:9 He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.
- Romans 9:16 So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.
- 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- Ephesians 1:11 In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will,
- James 1:16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers.
- John 3:27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11 To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith,
- 1 Corinthians 12:6 There are different ways of working, but the same God works all things in all people.