What is the "good work" mentioned in Philippians 1:6? Text of Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Immediate Literary Context Paul has just thanked God “for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now” (Philippians 1:5). The “good work” is therefore inseparable from the Gospel itself. The Philippians’ faith originated in Lydia’s conversion (Acts 16:14-15), the jailer’s salvation (Acts 16:30-34), and the birth of the church amid suffering (Philippians 1:29-30). Paul frames their entire story as something God—not the Philippians—“began.” Canonical Cross-References • Psalm 138:8 — “The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me.” • Isaiah 46:11 — “I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” • John 6:29 — “This is the work of God: to believe in the One He has sent.” • Galatians 3:3 — “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” • 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 — “He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” All reinforce that salvation—from new birth to final glory—remains God’s project. Historical-Cultural Background Philippi was a Roman colony populated by veterans. Civic pride and emperor worship pressed believers to declare “Jesus is Lord” over Caesar. The “good work” visibly countered cultural idolatry: a community marked by generosity (Philippians 4:15-18), unity (2:1-4), moral purity (2:15). God’s ongoing craftsmanship turned these once-pagan citizens into a colony of heaven (3:20). Regeneration → Justification → Sanctification → Glorification 1. Regeneration: God “opened [Lydia’s] heart” (Acts 16:14). 2. Justification: “found in Him…through faith in Christ” (Philippians 3:9). 3. Sanctification: “work out your salvation…for it is God who works in you” (2:12-13). 4. Glorification: “the day of Christ” (1:6; 2:16; 3:20-21). Thus the “good work” spans the entire ordo salutis, not merely initial conversion. Corporate and Missional Dimension Paul’s plural “in you” (ἐν ὑμῖν) can be translated “among you,” highlighting the church as a body. Their monetary gifts (4:15-19), evangelism (1:27-30), and steadfastness under persecution are fruits of that same divine work. God’s craftsmanship creates both saved individuals and a missional congregation. God’s Faithfulness and the Perseverance of the Saints Phil 1:6 is a flagship text for assurance. Because the agent is God, completion is certain. This undergirds the doctrine that true believers will persevere; failure would impugn God’s faithfulness, not human resolve (cf. 2 Timothy 2:13). Patristic Witness • Chrysostom (Hom. Philippians 1): “He speaks not of their labors but of the gifts of God.” • Augustine (On Rebuke and Grace 6): “That good work is both to will and to do; God begins, God completes.” Reformation and Evangelical Consensus The Reformers cited Philippians 1:6 against synergism. Calvin (Inst. 2.3.8): “In us He begins the work of salvation; in due time He makes it complete.” Contemporary evangelical theology continues this monergistic reading. Assurance and Pastoral Application Believers battling doubt find solid ground here. Spiritual growth may fluctuate, yet the finishing hand is divine. This fuels holy living (2 Peter 1:3-11) not complacency: God’s certainty energizes human responsibility. Relation to Creation and Design The Creator who “completed” the heavens and earth (Genesis 2:1-3) also completes the new creation in His people (2 Corinthians 5:17). The same intentional design seen in irreducibly complex biological systems mirrors His purposeful work in redemption—what He starts, He crafts to specification. Conclusion The “good work” in Philippians 1:6 is the sovereign, saving, sanctifying, and ultimately glorifying action of God begun at conversion, evidenced in gospel partnership, and guaranteed to reach completion at Christ’s return. It is both individual and corporate, monergistic in origin, synergistic in outworking, and utterly certain because it rests on the character and power of God Himself. |
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