Philippians 1:8-11

Paul’s prayer for the Philippians

NASB

⁸ For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; ¹¹ having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

NIV

⁸ God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

In these verses, Paul prays that the love of the Philippians would abound in knowledge and insight.

Love abounding more and more – Marriage (newlyweds vs. 30 years)

Paul did not specify the object of the love he talks about here.

Can love abound more and more among believers? How does that happen?

How does our love for one another increase our knowledge and depth of insight?

Does our love for one another help us discern what is best?

Does our love for one another contribute to our being pure?

Blameless - "Aproskopos has to do with being 'blameless' in the sense of 'not offending' or not causing someone else to stumble."

We need to love in harmony with God's revelation and with His Spirit's guidance (v. 9) so we will choose the best over the good (v. 10a). This will result in our being without flaw (sincere) and without blame (blameless) when we stand before God to give  an account of the stewardship of our lives at the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10b; 2 Cor. 5:10; cf. 1 John 3:3).

What is the fruit of righteousness? Galations5:22-23²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

How does righteousness (that comes through Jesus) glorify God?