Prayer

The apostle assured the saints that he prayed regularly for them (v. 3). Now here (v. 9) he reported what it was he prayed for.

1:9. It was Paul’s prayer that the Philippians’ love for other believers would abound, run over as a cup or a river overflows. But that love should be more than sentimental; it should be knowledgeable and discerning. Having genuine spiritual knowledge (epignosis) of God and depth of insight into His ways enables Christians to love God and others more. (This Gr. word for “insight” [aisthēsis] occurs only here in the NT.)

1:10. Paul stated two purposes for his prayer. The first is a near purpose: to discern what is best; and the second is a remote one: to be pure and blameless until the day of Christ. The idea of testing is clearly in view in the Greek word dokimazō, translated “discern.” The testing is with a view to approving. The word was used in testing metals and coins, to determine whether they met the specified standards.

“Pure” is the translation of a Greek word used only here and in 2 Peter 3:1. It is eilikrineis, which comes from the words for “sun” and “to judge,” thus indicating purity that is tested by the light of the sun. Paul wanted his readers to be rightly related to God and in fellowship with Him. Paul also was concerned that their relationships with others be what God would have them to be. The word aproskopoi, translated “blameless,” also appears in 1 Corinthians 10:32 where the same writer urged, “Do not cause anyone to stumble.” Paul’s desire for his friends at Philippi ought to be the concern of all believers—to be morally pure, not causing others to stumble.

I pray today we would plug into the power of Prayer as our source for helping others!

Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 650). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.