Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
they imagine to be the reward of merit. Hence he teaches, that the whole course of our life, if we
live aright, is regulated by God, and that, too, from his unmerited goodness.
With fear and trembling. From this Paul deduces an exhortation — that they must with fear
work out their own salvation. He conjoins, as he is accustomed, fear and trembling, for the sake of
greater intensity, to denote — serious and anxious fear. He, accordingly, represses drowsiness as
well as confidence. By the term work he reproves our indolence, which is always ingenious in
seeking advantages. 121 Now it seems as if it had in the grace of God a sweet occasion of repose;
for if He worketh in us, why should we not indulge ourselves at our ease? The Holy Spirit, however,
calls us to consider, that he wishes to work upon living organs, but he immediately represses
arrogance by recommending fear and trembling
The inference, also, is to be carefully observed: “You have,” says he, “all things from God;
therefore be solicitous and humble.” For there is nothing that ought to train us more to modesty
and fear, than our being taught, that it is by the grace of God alone that we stand, and will instantly
fall down, if he even in the slightest degree withdraw his hand. Confidence in ourselves produces
carelessness and arrogance. We know from experience, that all who confide in their own strength,
grow insolent through presumption, and at the same time, devoid of care, resign themselves to
sleep. The remedy for both evils is, when, distrusting ourselves, we depend entirely on God alone.
And assuredly, that man has made decided progress in the knowledge, both of the grace of God,
and of his own weakness, who, aroused from carelessness, diligently seeks 122 God’s help; while
those that are puffed up with confidence in their own strength, must necessarily be at the same time
in a state of intoxicated security. Hence it is a shameless calumny that Papists bring against us, —
that in extolling the grace of God, and putting down free-will, we make men indolent, shake off
the fear of God, and destroy all feeling of concern. It is obvious, however, to every reader, that
Paul finds matter of exhortation here — not in the doctrine of Papists, but in what is held by us.
“God,” says he, “works all things in us; therefore submit to him with fear.” I do not, indeed, deny
that there are many who, on being told that there is in us nothing that is good, indulge themselves
the more freely in their vices; but I deny that this is the fault of the doctrine, which, on the contrary,
when received as it ought to be, produces in our hearts a feeling of concern.
Papists, however, pervert this passage so as to shake the assurance of faith, for the man that
trembles 123 is in uncertainty. They, accordingly, understand Paul’s words as if they meant that we
ought, during our whole life, to waver as to assurance of salvation. If, however, we would not have
Paul contradict himself, he does not by any means exhort us to hesitation, inasmuch as he everywhere
recommends confidence and (πληροφορίαν) full assurance. The solution, however, is easy, if any
one is desirous of attaining the true meaning without any spirit of contention. There are two kinds
of fear; the one produces anxiety along with humility; the other hesitation. The former is opposed
to fleshly confidence and carelessness, equally as to arrogance; the latter, to assurance of faith.
Farther, we must take notice, that, as believers repose with assurance upon the grace of God, so,
when they direct their views to their own frailty, they do not by any means resign themselves
carelessly to sleep, but are by fear of dangers stirred up to prayer. Yet, so far is this fear from
121 “Ingenieuse a cercher ses auantages, et quelques vaines excuses;” — “Ingenious in seeking its advantages, and some vain
pretexts.”
122 “Cerche songneusement et implore;” — “Diligently seeks and implores.”
123 “Car celuy qui tremble, disent-ils;” — “For he that trembles, say they.”
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John Calvin