Book of Philippians - Chapter 1 - Verse 9

In this verse, the apostle Paul is expressing his heartfelt prayer for the recipients of his letter, emphasizing the importance of love that grows and overflows. He desires for their love to abound more and more, not just in emotion but in knowledge and discernment. This speaks to the idea that love should not be superficial or without depth, but should be rooted in understanding and wisdom. By coupling love with knowledge and judgment, Paul highlights the need for a balanced and informed approach to love. This type of love is intentional, considerate, and wise, making choices that are guided by understanding and discernment. It goes beyond mere feelings or actions, encompassing a deep knowledge of God's will and a discerning approach to relationships and interactions.

In this verse, the Apostle Paul is offering a prayer for the believers at Philippi, expressing his desire for their love to grow and overflow more and more. The word "abound" in Greek is "perisseuo" which conveys the idea of exceeding, surpassing, or overflowing. This shows that Paul is not content with the current level of love among the Philippians but desires for it to increase exponentially.

Paul's prayer is not just for a superficial kind of love but a love that is grounded in knowledge and discernment. The word "knowledge" in Greek is "epignosis," which refers to deep, experiential knowledge rather than mere intellectual understanding. This implies that love should be informed by a comprehensive understanding of God's will and character.

Furthermore, the phrase "in all judgment" emphasizes the importance of discernment in love. The word "judgment" in Greek is "aisthesis," which means perception or discernment. Paul is praying for the Philippians to have the ability to make wise and discerning decisions in their expression of love towards others.

Overall, this verse highlights the depth and intentionality of Christian love, urging believers to not only love fervently but to do so with knowledge and discernment.