Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 4

Paul Pours out his love, prayers, and thanksgiving to the Brothers and Sisters in Philippi Part 3

Philippians 1:9-11 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 offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. KJV

Paul had experienced the love of these Philippian believers first hand by their willingness to give of their resources to Paul and to the Church in Jerusalem that was under harsh persecution (2 Corinthians 8:1). Therefore, knowing this he prays for their love to Christ Jesus our Lord  “abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment” (Philippians 1:9). Paul wants their love to be like a waterfall of love ever flowing from Christ to them that never runs dry. However, he prays that their love be in knowledge and in all judgment. The English word knowledge used here by Paul is translated by the Greek word epignosis which means recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment. In other words, Paul wants them to love with understanding and with truth as he declared to the Ephesian believers with these words, “That we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ.” (Ephesians 4:14-15).

Paul prays for the perception of love for these Philippian believers and we believers today be according to knowledge and that knowledge is according to Christ Jesus our Lord that we may be steadfast always growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Note: “Christianity is a vigorous plant, not the hotbed growth of enthusiasm. ‘Knowledge’ and ‘perception’ guard love from being ill-judged.” (JFB Commentary). Paul wanted them to understand Christ love fully and completely, so he prays that they would because as he wrote to the Roman believers he wanted all believers everywhere (including these in Philippi and us today) to recognize and practice love as our Lord Jesus Christ did as Paul wrote these words to the Roman believers, “Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements {and} is the fulfilling of the Law.” (Romans 13:10).

Paul prays that they “may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:10). The little English phrase “may approve” is translated by one Greek word dokimazo which means to test (literally or figuratively); by implication to approve: - allow, discern, examine, like, to prove, try. This word used here refers to the types of trials metals are exposed to in order to test their nature. Paul prays for these Philippian believers and we believers today to try, test, and to prove our love to God the Father, our brethren and sisteren, and even the unbelievers to be of true and genuine Christlikeness as he declared to the Corinthian believers with these words when he said, “But earnestly desire {and} zealously cultivate the greatest {and} best gifts {and} graces (the higher gifts and the choicest graces). And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one that is better by far and the highest of them all--love].” (1 Corinthians 12:31). The more excellent way of love flowing from Christ’ Throne of Grace will enable us to discern not only what is good for us to do to and for others, but more importantly what is best.

Paul prays that they would be sincere believers in Christ and this English word sincere is translated by the Greek word eilikrines which means (the sun’s ray) and judged by sunlight, that is, tested as genuine (figuratively): - pure, sincere. In other words, a sincere believer in Christ Jesus our Lord is not someone that is perfect yet here on the earth, but one who loves our Lord Jesus truly and is grateful that He (Christ) would redeemed such a wretched sinner as we are from the pit and take us to the palace of Heaven. The Apostle Paul will say it in his own words in this manner latter on in this same letter when he wrote, “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12-14). This is the heart or inner man or inner woman of a sincere believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ.

Paul prays for them to be “without offense” and this little English phrase is translated by one Greek word aproskopos which means (as a negative particle) actively inoffensive, that is, not leading into sin; passively faultless, that is, not led into sin: - void of offence. It is a prayer for these Philippian believers and we believers today to be of a mind set and to put into action not causing other Brothers and Sisters in Christ to sin (Romans 14:13). It does not refer to the individual as having attained sinless perfection themselves, but it means that the love coming from Christ to every believer should make them actively avoid leading others into sin by virtue of words spoken or actions rendered as the Apostle Paul spoke of himself with these words recorded by Dr. Luke, “But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets. I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust. This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” (Acts 24:14-16).

The Apostle Paul prays for these Philippian believers and we believers today to keep themselves/ourselves in the “love of God” (Jude 1:21) that we may be blameless and without offense even though we will never be sinless down here as Paul declared with these words to the Corinthian believers, “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-8). Therefore, as we see it is our Lord Jesus Christ that preserves us to the end (Philippians 1:6) and enables us to bear the fruits of righteousness because they are “by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:11).

“First, sincere: that signifies simplicity of purpose, and singleness of heart in following out that purpose. Sincere Christians cherish in their hearts no views, no principles, adverse to the Christian calling. The test of this sincerity is that a man shall be honestly willing to let light shine through him, to evince the true character of his principles and motives. Such a man is on the road to the final, victorious, and eternal sincerity. For the present there may be within him too much of that which hinders him, and mars his life. But if he is set on expelling this and welcomes the light which exposes it, in order that he may expel it, then he has a real, present sincerity, and his course is brightening towards the perfect day.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…