Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 2:15

"that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world," — Philippians 2:15 (ASV)

The purpose of the exhortation to work out their salvation was that the readers might be pure and uncontaminated light-givers in the world. By regeneration they had already become children of God in nature and position. Now as they progressed in sanctification, they would become “children of God without fault,” particularly as viewed by the world around them. By faithfully adhering to the word of God as contained in Scripture and taught by Paul, their lives would be free from anything blameworthy. Thus their witness would not be disfigured.

The apostle is mindful of their location within a corrupt society. Using OT language he depicts humankind generally as “a crooked and depraved generation.” Amid this moral blackness, the children of God should stand out as stars at midnight. Believers are the possessors of Christ, the Light of the world , and so are now light-givers to the world (Matthew 5:14). “You shine” states the present fact. They are not told to shine, but are reminded that they already do. The challenge was to let the light shine out unhindered (cf. Matthew 5:16).