Paragraph 1:9–11

Paul prayed that the Philippians would love one another more and more, and would be pure and blameless so that other people would honor and praise God.

1:9a

And this is my prayer: In 1:4 Paul said he prayed for the Philippians. Here in 1:9–11 he told them specifically what he was praying. If in your language it is necessary to translate prayer with a verb, use a verb tense that gives the idea of habitual action in the present: “I pray (regularly, habitually, repeatedly)….”

that your love may abound more and more: Some languages have a special way to mark the content of a wish or a prayer. For example, in English we use the auxiliary verb may. If you have such a marker, you should use it here.

love: The Greek text, like most English translations, does not make it clear whom the Philippians were to love. The text could refer to loving one another or it could refer to loving God. Paul was probably including both ideas. Therefore, if possible you should not say in your translation whom the Philippians were to love. Then your readers will understand that it includes both these ideas. However, if you must provide an object, it is recommended that you say that the Philippians were to love one another.

abound more and more: The verb abound here means “grow” or “increase.” In some languages love cannot “grow,” but there may be another idiom for love becoming stronger or more intense. Or, if you cannot use an idiom, you could try expressing this meaning as

You already love each other a little, now love each other a lot.

Paul used the phrase abound more and more to emphasize that he desired the Philippians’ love to grow.

1:9b

knowledge and depth of insight: Commentators understand this phrase in two main ways:

(1) The phrase knowledge and depth of insight refers to two things that Paul wanted to see increase along with the Philippians’ love.

(2) The phrase knowledge and depth of insight shows the way in which their love needed to grow, that is, the Philippians were to grow in love that had knowledge and depth of insight.

Either interpretation is possible. The Display follows the first interpretation (1). However, if you prefer to follow the second (2), you could say:

that you will continue loving more and more in a way that is wise and discerning

knowledge: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as knowledge is related to a verb that means “to know something truly or completely.” Paul did not specify what sort of knowledge he was talking about. It could refer to:

(1) understanding God and how he wants us to behave. For example:

that you will fully know and understand how to make the right choices (1:9b-10a, Contemporary English Version)

(2) knowledge of the truth in general. For example:

true knowledge (Good News Translation)

If you must be explicit, then choose the first option (1), that is, Paul was referring to knowing God and what God wants us to do.

depth of insight: This is literally “all judgment/discernment.” This phrase means to understand all kinds of things in a spiritual sense, to know what is true and right in every situation. This idea continues in 1:10.

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