Did you even look at the context? My guess is you did not.
Lets look at another similar verse.
Romans 8:15
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
I have read it in context. you brought up several times in your post that followed… “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” every time (unless I’ve misunderstood) Paul was having to defend himself against the attacks of being called a reprobate. They wanted proof Christ was speaking in Paul. 2 Corinthians 13:3. Do you get that …
They wanted proof. Hence “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” “Examine yourself”
Else where the beginning of wisdom is to fear God, and to depart from evil. out from the Fear of God=An evident action corresponds.depart from evil.
To me: their time for an evident action that corresponds to and as a result of:Fear and Trembling had arrived. Paul instructs them often to do no evil against him,
even though they think he is a reprobate…because that is what the scriptures say “if you love those only who love you, and don’t love (those you consider) your enemies” what more do you do than the pagans? To me Paul is urging them to not only talk the big talk, but to practice what they talk. To me, Paul could easily say to them the same as James says in “do you have faith? O vain man…I will show you my faith
by my works.” Did Paul depart from doing evil? Do we deny Paul was showing “Faith” in “we are happy when we are weak, and you made strong. This we hope…your perfection.”
What? Perfect love cast out fear, he who fears has not been made perfect in love. How did it move from “you want proof Christ speaks in me.” As Paul said to them…to First) work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…possibly Paul was seeking where is the Fear of God you claim, from where there comes a “departing from evil.” —yet who is asking for “proof” …they were.
because even the demons tremble…the beginning of the Wisdom that descends not from man, but instead comes down from above and given of God …
is to depart from evil. Paul urges “I trust you will know we are not reprobate” “do no evil brothers, even though I seem to you as a reprobate” whom now you boast against me (Paul) by saying I don’t love you because I tell you the truth. Important is (Imo) Paul wasn’t wanting them to remain or to stay in fear and trembling which is the beginning, to depart from evil —but so much Paul desired (or at least that is what I hear) their moving on from fear and trembling —to the act of doing what they say.
On to; the perfect love which cast fear, for he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (Yet)
Paul wishing for their being made perfect to me seems to imply he could see something was lacking, which is the beginning The Fear of God Was lacking, by which comes the departing from evil as they had yet to “do no evil” not so we appear approved (that is not the evil here) but “Approve” yourselves.
to me it isn’t Paul desire they be stuck at “fear and trembling” because even the demons tremble but, by departing from evil …let us move on to Perfection which comes from “do no evil” “even though you consider us reprobates” …because the Fathers perfection is that He causes it to rain on the just and the unjust alike.
Point is, Fear has its place for example some save by fear, but also compassion has its place…and on some have compassion.
Jude 1:21-23 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. [22] And of some have compassion, making a difference: [23] And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
BUT in all things looking for Mercy. To me Paul was looking for Mercy from them to have compassion upon those they consider reprobate.
He may have desired to save them by The fear of God, but He also desired their compassion so much so Paul as willing himself to be weak, for their opportunity of the Spirit of God to bear fruit . Looking for that Mercy.