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PHILIPPIANS

CHAPTERS

Philippians 1:7-11

For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.”


I long for you all: Paul is speaking to people whom he considers fellow partakers of God’s grace. He was confident in their salvation because of the love that existed within himself for these people. But this was not a love originating from the world. It is the affection of Christ. All believers have the love of Christ within them. This love of Christ was flowing through Paul to the church at Philippi. This same love was within the readers of Paul’s letter. The telltale sign that someone is saved is that they love fellow believers. 

Real knowledge: The people in the Greek culture had been characterized by centuries of philosophical language about the nature of reality. Paul is making the claim that Christ is the true knowledge for which the Greeks longed. There have always been false beliefs about reality, and even God Himself. But these beliefs are founded on false knowledge that is inconsistent with the Gospel. Believers, therefore, need to have discernment about various teachings especially in modern society.

Sincere and blameless: Paul is not speaking about our salvation. He is speaking of being sincere and blameless in the sight of people. Believers are to be filled with the fruit of righteousness, seeking to do good to all people. This in turn reflects the salvific work of God within believers and, hopefully, brings the world to believe in Jesus.

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PHILIPPIANS

CHAPTERS