Philippians 1:9

“And this. pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment”

“That your love”: For God and others (Matthew 22:37). “May abound”: To superabound, be in excess, and excel. “Present active subjunctive may keep on overflowing” (Robertson p. 437). ‘Yet more and more”: “Grow yet stronger and stronger” (TCNT). “It is interesting to note that Paul does not qualify or limit this love for which he prays by adding an object to it--it is not love for others, nor for each other, nor yet their love for him (merely). In effect, Paul prays that the Philippians increasingly may be persons characterized by love, even as God their Father, is himself characterized by love (cf. 1 John 4:3). Paul knows that if the love they already possess increases steadily and continues to abound it will overflow into deeds of kindness; wrong attitudes and actions toward each other will disappear and the problems at Philippi will be resolved (Philippians 2:3; Philippians 4:2)” (Hawthorne pp. 25-26). Paul expects steady growth among Christians. No bare minimum service here! (1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Thessalonians 4:10 “But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more”; 2 Peter 1:8; 2 Peter 3:18). Since the Christian never reaches perfection, it is only logical that spiritual improvement is always expected of every child of God (Philippians 3:12-17). “Since they are already abounding, Paul's desire is that no decline may ever set in but steady, healthy increase. For in every congregation, even also in the case of the best members in it, this is the mark of virile spiritual life” (Lenski p. 717).

“Knowledge”: Full discernment. The knowledge mentioned here denotes. deeper and more advanced knowledge. This "love" is to be properly channeled or regulated by. full and deep level of knowledge and discernment in spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). “All discernment”: “Refined spiritual insight, perception to separate right from wrong” (Jackson p. 25). “The delicate spiritual perception (Hebrews 5:14)” (Robertson p. 436). “Discernment selects, classifies, and applies what is furnished by knowledge” (Vincent p. 418). “This is the ability to make proper moral decisions in the midst of. vast array of differing and difficult choices that are constantly presenting themselves to the Christian” (Hawthorne p. 27).

Knowledge without the proper motive is empty and dangerous (1 Corinthians 8:1; 1 Corinthians 13:1), but just as useless and dangerous is love without the right knowledge. “Nothing perhaps is more harmful than the easy good nature which is willing to tolerate everything; and this is often mistaken for the Christian frame of mind. Love must fasten itself on the things which are worth loving. and it cannot do so unless it is wisely directed” (Hawthorne p. 26). “Paul insists that we are not to be the creatures of circumstance; nor are we to be ruled by impulse and desire. Love must itself be wise and discriminating. It is not to be confused with unregulated and selfish passion. It is not to be blinded by false reasoning” (Erdman p. 52). “Love should be judicious...it is the ability of mind and heart to separate not only the good from the bad, but also the important from the unimportant.. person who possesses love but lacks discernment may reveal. great deal of eagerness and enthusiasm. He may donate to all kinds of causes yet he may be doing more harm than good. Also, such an individual may at times be mislead doctrinally” (Hendriksen p. 60) (Romans 10:1). “ Love as. mere sentimental, unguided emotion, is not. virtue applauded in the Scriptures. Love must be educated. How very valuable, therefore, is Paul's counsel, even in this age, when ‘love' is frequently seen as an acceptable substitute for soundness in doctrine” (Jackson pp. 25-26).