Paul's Prayer (Phil. 1.9-11), Part 1

Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1.9–11 builds theologically upon his pronouncements of solidarity with the church. The “and” (v. 9) can almost be seen as a “therefore” since Paul seems to be saying that his confidence concerning God’s work in the Philippians’ lives is really what causes him to pray as he does. Though I tend to be a poor pray-er, usually what does motivate me to pray for fellow Christians is a remembrance of how Christ is active in their lives. For Paul this connection is profound.

Paul’s prayer is very specific and is thereby an antidote to my often vague expressions of well-wishes. Interestingly, we see here a coupling of two concepts—love and knowledge—that we are likely to view as separate concepts: the whole heart versus head mentality. Paul holds them together when he requests that God cause the Philippian church to increase in their love “with knowledge and discernment” (9).

“Discernment” perhaps makes clear that knowledge here is not the exclusive dominion of the head but involves the will and decision-making. While my habit is to crave knowledge for the purpose of self-aggrandizement, or at least self-assurance, Paul desires that these saints increase in their affection for God, through the means of a moral understanding that mere information cannot provide.