Bible Strands
Philippians 1:9
And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Paul writes to the church in Philippi from prison, moving from his personal longing for them (v. 8) into a specific prayer for their spiritual growth.
The words — ἀγάπη (agapē) carries the verse as the object of the prayer, not a generic affection but the same love of Christ named in the preceding verse. ἔτι (eti) marks the direction: "yet" or "still," pushing that love beyond its current state.
The thread — 1 Thessalonians 3:12 asks the same increase and overflow of love; Colossians 1:9 pairs the prayer for love with knowledge of God's will, echoing the knowledge-and-insight pairing here.
Why it lands — The verse refuses to let love remain a static feeling; it demands that love be sharpened by knowledge and insight, so the reader's affection becomes discernment rather than mere sentiment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Cross-references
- 1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows,
- Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
- Philemon 1:6 I pray that your partnership in the faith may become effective as you fully acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.
- 2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
- Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7 But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in the love we inspired in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9 Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are obligated to thank God for you all the time, brothers, as is fitting, because your faith is growing more and more, and your love for one another is increasing.
- 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls by obedience to the truth so that you have a genuine love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from a pure heart.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.