John Calvin 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)

This I pray that your love. He returns to the prayer, which he had touched upon with a single word in passing. He states, accordingly, the sum of those things which he asked from God on their behalf, so that they also may learn to pray according to his example and may aspire to proficiency in those gifts.

The view taken by some—that the love of the Philippians denoted the Philippians themselves (just as uneducated people are very commonly accustomed to say “Your reverence” or “Your paternity”)—is absurd. For no instance of such an expression occurs in the writings of Paul, nor had such fooleries yet come into use.

Besides, the statement would be less complete, and, independently of this, the simple and natural meaning of the words suits admirably well. For the true attainments of Christians are realized when they make progress in knowledge, and understanding, and afterwards in love.

Accordingly, the particle in, according to the idiom of the Hebrew language, is taken here to mean with, as I have also rendered it, unless perhaps one should prefer to explain it as meaning by, so as to denote the instrument or formal cause. For, the greater proficiency we make in knowledge, the more our love ought to increase. The meaning in that case would be, “That your love may increase according to the measure of knowledge.” All knowledge means what is full and complete—not a knowledge of all things.