Philippians 1:9-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9

And this I pray . This is the purport of the prayer already mentioned in Philippians 1:4 . The conjunction ἵνα marks the end of St. Paul's prayer, and so its purport. That your love may abound yet more and more . Your love; not love for the apostle only, but the grace of Christian charity. St. Paul finds no fault with the Philippians, but "ignis in apostolo nunquam dicit, Sufficit" (Bengel). He prays for their continued growth in love, but not unintelligent love. In knowledge and in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9-10

The things that excel St. Paul prays that his readers may have that finer spiritual perception ( aisthesis ) which is produced by an increase of love in order that they may discern the greater worth of those good things which differ from other good things in being more excellent. The high endowment would not be necessary for the discrimination of the coarser contrasts of good and evil, light and darkness, etc. It is plain, therefore, that different shades of goodness, gradations of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9-11

St. Paul's prayer for the Philippians. I. THAT THEIR LOVE ABOUND MORE AND MORE . 1 . God had begun in them the good work , the work of faith, faith that worketh by love. St. Paul recognizes the reality of their love; it was true and deep. But: 2 . There is always room for growth in love ; it is the noblest of Christian graces, the most precious of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Christian's desire for love is without limit. ἀκόρεστον ἀγαθὸν τοῦτο... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9-11

The apostle's prayer. He had spoken of praying for them. This was the purport of his prayers: "And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and in all discernment." I. THE INCREASE OF LOVE THE MAIN THING IN RELIGION . 1 . The language implies the existence of this love as well as its imperfection. It had been manifest in many ways; but there were social rivalries and jealousies and disputes at Philippi. Therefore the apostle prays that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9-11

The augmentation of Christly love ensures the improvement of the whole man. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God." Here again the apostle prays that that love for Christ, which they had shown in their deep,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:9-11

The life of God in the soul of man. I. THE ELEMENT WHICH IS PECULIAR TO IT AND WHICH BETOKENS ITS PRESENCE — LOVE . "We know that we have passed from death unto life because we love the brethren" ( 1 John 2:14 ). "Love is the fulfilling of the Law." II. ITS MANIFESTATION . If this love is the genuine fruit of God's Spirit within us, it will lead us to the knowledge of him and to the discernment of that which is pleasing in his sight. Being of God, it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things that are excellent . Love, issuing in spiritual discernment, would enable them to recognize, to test, to prove things that are excellent; so Bengel, " Non modo prae malts bona, seal in bonds optima ." This seems better than the alternative rendering, " to prove the things that differ" (comp. Romans 2:18 ). That ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ . εἰλικρινής according to the common derivation (from εἵλη , sunlight, and ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 1:9

And this I pray - We pray for those whom we love, and whose welfare we seek. We desire their happiness; and there is no way more appropriate of expressing that desire than of going to God, and seeking it at his hand. Paul proceeds to enumerate the blessings which he sought for them; and it is worthy of observation that he did not ask riches, or worldly prosperity, but that his supplications were confined to spiritual blessings, and he sought these as the most desirable of all favors.That your... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Philippians 1:10

That ye may approve things - Margin, “Or, try.” The word used here denotes the kind of trial to which metals are exposed in order to test their nature; and the sense here is, that the apostle wished them so to try the things that were of real value, as to discern that which was true and genuine.That are excellent - Margin: Or, “differ.” The margin here more correctly expresses the sense of the Greek word. The idea is, that he wished them to be able to distinguish between things that differed... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Philippians 1:9-11

Philippians 1:9-11. This I pray, that your love To God and one another, and all mankind which you have already shown; may abound yet more and more The fire which burned in the apostle’s breast never says, It is enough; in knowledge Arising from, and attended with, a more perfect knowledge of God, of Christ, and of spiritual things in general; and in all judgment Or rather, in all sense, or feeling, as παση αισθησει signifies: that is, That you may have a spiritual sense and taste,... read more

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