Again he says: "humbled Himself," lest anyone think that He condescended not voluntarily. But the Arians say: behold, it is said of Him: "obedient." So what of it, you senseless ones? We too obey our friends, and this in no way diminishes our dignity. As the Son, He voluntarily obeyed the Father, showing by this also His kinship with Him; because it is the duty of a true Son to honor the Father. Pay attention to the intensification of the expression: not only did He become a servant, but He accepted death, and even more than that — a shameful death, that is, death on the cross, accursed, appointed for the lawless.
Phil. 2:9. God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name,
When Paul mentioned the flesh, he boldly speaks of all His humiliation, since this is proper to the flesh. Thus, understand these words also as referring to the flesh, without dividing the one Christ. What then is the name bestowed upon the human nature of the one Christ? This name is Son, this name is God; because this Man is the Son of God, as the archangel also said: "and the holy thing which shall be born shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:35).
Phil. 2:10. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth,
That is, the whole world: angels, men, and demons; or: both the righteous and sinners. Because even the demons will acknowledge, and the disobedient will submit, no longer opposing the truth, just as even before that time they said: "I know You, who You are" (Luke 4:34).
Phil. 2:11. And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
That is, so that all would say that the Lord Jesus Christ is Lord and God. The glory of the Father consists in this: that He has such a Son, to Whom everything submits. Do you see that in the glorification of the Only-Begotten lies the glory of the Father? So that, on the contrary, His diminishment constitutes the dishonor of the Father.
Phil. 2:12. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always been obedient,
Exhortation must be combined with praise, for through this they become more readily acceptable. Therefore Paul also extols the Philippians, calling them beloved, and says: "as you have always been obedient," as if saying by this the following: I have shown you that the Son of God was obedient; therefore, imitate Him and yourselves.
Phil. 2:12. Not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence,
Because then it might have seemed that you were doing everything out of respect for me; but if even now you show zeal for virtue, then it is clear that even then you were such not for my sake, but for God's.
Phil. 2:12. With fear and trembling work out your own salvation,
Not for my own sake, he says, do I exhort you, but so that you may work out what pertains to your salvation with fear, and indeed an intense fear with trembling, because without fear nothing good is accomplished, neither in the literary sciences nor in the mechanical arts. How then can such perfect fear be born? If we consider that God is present everywhere, hears all things and sees all things — not only what is done, but also what is in our thoughts. "Serve," says the prophet, "the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling" (Ps. 2:11). Joy with trembling occurs when someone, doing a good deed, and moreover with trembling, has a clear conscience. He said "work out" (κατεργάζεσθε), and not simply "do" (ἐργάζεσθε), that is, with great diligence and care.
Phil. 2:13. for it is God who produces in you both the willing and the working
Having said "with fear and trembling," the apostle now says: do not be troubled by this. I said this not so that you would retreat from good, but so that you would be more attentive, because if you are diligent, God will accomplish everything in you. For He Himself gives us both the disposition toward good and brings the very doing of good to completion. God produces in us the willing, that is, He assists us in desiring good and strengthens our good will and at the same time arouses its zeal. Or alternatively: since He Himself completes the work, and we, being human, direct our desire toward what we see already accomplished, therefore the apostle says that the very willing is produced by God. For example, you desired something — you immediately began to do it; if the completion of the work followed, an even greater desire to do the same work is born in you; but if not, your will becomes weaker. So if the completion of the work depends on God, and it arouses our desire as well, then the apostle is entirely right in saying that the very desire depends on God. Or else Paul speaks out of a feeling of great gratitude, that God produces the very desire in us, just as he also calls virtue a gift, not denying freedom of choice, but wishing that we always be grateful and attribute everything to God. Note the expression "in you," that is, who work out salvation with fear and trembling; because it is only in such people that God accomplishes everything.
Phil. 2:13. By His good pleasure.
That is, so that His good pleasure and His good will may be fulfilled in you, namely that we may live as He Himself wills. So be assured: God will help you in every way to live rightly, if for no other reason, then because this is well-pleasing to Him.
Phil. 2:14. Do all things without murmuring and doubting,
The devil, when he is unable to completely turn someone away from good, drives him either to despair or to vainglory; and if he cannot accomplish even this, he suggests to him murmuring or doubt and unbelief. Since the Philippians were subjected to temptations and constant dangers, as a result many of them fell into murmuring and blasphemy; therefore the apostle says: "do all things without murmuring." For whoever murmurs becomes ungrateful and abusive in speech. By doubt the apostle means wavering of thoughts, for example if, when a commandment is set before one to fulfill, one were to say: will there indeed be a reward for me? is this really good? For such doubtful thoughts must not be entertained, but one must act with confidence; whether labor or exertion is required, one must not allow wavering.
Phil. 2:15. that you may be blameless and pure,
That is, blameless and unspotted, because murmuring is subject to punishment – this is because he speaks with the Philippians as with free people. Listen to what follows.
Phil. 2:15. children of God, blameless
So then, to murmur is characteristic of slaves and the ungrateful; for what son, laboring for his own father and for himself, murmurs?
Phil. 2:15. Among a crooked and perverse generation,
I know that many wage war against you, thus compelling you to murmur; but therein lies the highest praise, if someone, even when provoked by others, does nothing of the sort.