Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 1:9

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment;" — Philippians 1:9 (ASV)

Paul’s genuine thanks for the fellowship of the Philippian saints caused him to pray for their continued spiritual progress. Concern for others should express itself first in prayer, as one recognizes the importance of the divine factor in any lasting spiritual growth. The basic petition of Paul’s prayer is that his readers’ love might “abound more and more.” “Love” (GK 27) is an aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), enabling all other spiritual virtues to be exercised properly (1 Corinthians 13:1–3). Without it no Christian is spiritually complete (Colossians 3:14). There is no reason to limit this to love for God, for each other, or for Paul. It is unrestricted and refers to any continuing demonstration of this spiritual fruit in any and all ways.

Love must be intelligent and morally discerning, however, in order to be genuine. It is based on knowledge, the intellectual perception that recognizes principles from the Word of God as illuminated by the Holy Spirit. Such spiritual knowledge enables believers to love what God commands. “Depth of insight” stresses moral perception and the practical application of knowledge to the myriad circumstances of life. Spiritual knowledge is thus no abstraction but is intended to be applied to life.