2:13a

For: This connecting word indicates that what follows shows how the believers can do what they are instructed in 2:12. They can work out their salvation because God is working within them.

works in you: God causes things to happen in and among his people.

in you: The Greek phrase usually translated as in you has been understood in two ways:

(1) God works within individual believers;

(2) The emphasis is not on individual believers but on the community of God’s people. God works among them.

It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1).

2:13b

to will and to act: This means to want to do something (or to be willing to do it) and also to actually do it. Some ways to translate along with 2:13a are:

God makes you willing ⌊to obey⌋…
-or-
God renews how you think so you are willing to do what he wants.
-or-
God makes you want to do his purpose, and able to do it.

on behalf of His good purpose: His refers to God. The Greek is literally “for his [God’s] good pleasure.” Commentators do not agree about how this phrase relates to the rest of the verse. There are two possibilities:

(1) It relates to the verbs “will” and “act.” God both causes his people to want to do what pleases him and enables them to do what he wants. (Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Revised Standard Version, Good News Translation, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)

(2) It relates to the verb “works” in 2:13a. God works in us in accordance with his own purpose. (NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)

The main difficulty with the second interpretation is that it does not say what God makes believers able and willing to do. It is recommended that you follow the first interpretation (1). God works within each believer to enable him both to want to do and to actually do what pleases him.

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