fluenced by that immediate contact and intercourse, +but now
much more in my absence+, ("much more," as my absence throws you more
directly on your resources in the Lord,) +work out+, develope, +your
own salvation+, your own spiritual safety, health, and joy, +with fear
and trembling+; not with the tortures of misgiving, not driven by a
shrinking dread of your gracious God, but drawn by a tender reverence
and solemn watchfulness, lest you should grieve the eternal Love. Yes,
"work out _your own_ salvation"; do not depend upon _me_; take _your
own_ souls in hand, in a faith and love which look, without the least
earthly intermediation, straight to GOD and to Him alone.[2] For
indeed He is near to you; far nearer than ever a Paul could be; "a very
present help," for

Ver. 13. your safety, and for your holiness. +For God it is who is
effecting+ (_energos_) +in you+, in your very being, in "the first
springs of thought and will," +both your+ (_to_) +willing and your
effecting+, your carrying out the willing, +for His+ (_tes_) +good
pleasure's sake+; in order to the accomplishment through you of all His
holy purposes. Here, in this wonderful immanence, this divine
indwelling, and in its living, operative power, you will find reason
enough alike for the "fear and trembling" of deepest reverence, and for
the calm resourceful confidence of those who can, if need be, "walk
alone," as regards dependence upon even an apostolic friend beside
them. Live then as those who carry about with them the very life and
power of God in Christ. And what will that life be? A life of
spiritual ostentation? Nay, the beautiful and

Ver. 14. gentle opposite to it. +Do all things without+, apart from
(_choris_), in a definite isolation from, +murmurings and disputes+,
thoughts and utterances of discontent and self-assertion towards one
another, grudgings of others' claims, and contentions for your

Ver. 15. own; +so that you may become+ (_genesthe_), what in full
realization you scarcely yet are, +unblamable and simple+ (_akeraioi_,
"unadulterated"), single-hearted, because self-forgetting; +God's
children+ (_tekna_), shewing what they are by the unmistakable
_family-likeness_ of holy love; +blameless+ as such, true to your
character; +in the midst of a race+ (_geneas_) +crooked and distorted+,
the members of a world whose will always crosses the will of God who is
Love; +among whom you are appearing+, like stars which come out in the