“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (ESV).
In the last post we talked about the beginning of this prayer- how abundant love is the direct result of abiding in Christ. The apostle didn’t stop his intersession for the church with his request that their love would abound more and more. He prays that their love would abound with knowledge and all discernment.
When studying this prayer, I asked myself the following question: why? Why are knowledge and discernment at the forefront of Paul’s mind?
We know from the text that there are three main outcomes that proceed from this. He prays that they would abound in love, with all knowledge and discernment so that they may:
1. Approve of what is excellent.
2. Be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
3. Be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ (to the glory and praise of God!).
Defining knowledge and discernment
The word knowledge in the text comes from the Koine Greek word ἐπιγνώσει (epignōsei). It literally means perception or knowledge (Strong’s Greek: 1922. ἐπιγνώσει (epignōsei) – recognition, knowledge, n.d.). And its worth noting that this isn’t a knowledge that is cold and impersonal, it is a knowledge gained through experience. Helps Word Studies breaks it down this way:
“Epígnōsis (from 1909 /epí, “on, fitting” which intensifies 1108 /gnṓsis, “knowledge gained through first-hand relationship”) – properly, “contact-knowledge” that is appropriate (“apt, fitting”) to first-hand, experiential knowing (Word Studies: 1922 epignōsei.” HELPS word studies. Discovery Bible, n.d.).1
The word translated as discernment actually comes from two words in the Greek. Πάσῃ (pasē) and Αἰσθήσει (aisthēsei). It literally means “all perception,” and it’s usage is best described in English as “discernment” (Strong’s Greek: 3956. Πᾶς (pas) – all, every, n.d., Strong’s Greek: 144. αἴσθησις (aisthésis) – perception, n.d.). 2,3
What kind of knowledge?
What knowledge is the apostle speaking of? The knowledge found in Christ!
“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.” Colossians 2:1-4 (ESV).
In the person of Jesus Christ, the child of God finds all wisdom and knowledge. He is the source of true light. Why is he called the light of the world? Because he brings truth, the truth that makes it possible to see things as they truly are- not according to the pattern of the world, but according to the Word made flesh! (John 1:14).
Worldly Script
There is a wisdom of the world, a spiritual commentary all around us which seeks to deny and disregard who God is. Even in the spaces that reject religion entirely, this commentary continues. The apostle Paul spoke to these things later on in the same chapter.
“See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8 (ESV).
Reading the words of the apostle Paul, I feel his urgency for the spiritual safety of the church and the believers he holds so closely to his heart. He doesn’t want them to be deceived by arguments that depend on worldly wisdom. He urgently warns them to follow after Christ and not desert the truth of the gospel. This is a big part of why knowledge and discernment are on his heart! When Jesus is your source of wisdom, you will not listen to the spiritually dangerous (and often persuasive) voices in the world.
Real Food
The problem of seeking after knowledge and trying to satisfy spiritual hunger outside of the Creator is something humanity has struggled with from the beginning. Perhaps, one of the best examples of looking to worldly wisdom exists in the book of Isaiah.
“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” Isaiah 55:1-2 (ESV).
Without the knowledge and discernment that comes from Jesus, we’re spiritually vulnerable and as Paul goes on to explain, having knowledge and discernment allows the believer to approve of what is excellent! Knowledge, discernment, and the ability to rightly divide truth are in direct relationship with where we abide. Jesus said himself that we can do nothing apart from him. In him, all treasures of wisdom and knowledge dwell! When we abide in Christ, we can come to the table God has prepared with opened eyes. Knowledge from God allows us to know what real food is, and discern when something isn’t edible. We will know salvation comes from his gospel, and true life is found no where else.
As we enter the new year, may we abide in Christ. May Jesus be our source of knowledge and may we be able to discern what is excellent, because we are familiar with the voice of our master.
Footnotes:
1. Strong’s Greek: 1922. ἐπιγνώσει (epignōsei) – recognition, knowledge, n.d., https://biblehub.com/greek/1922.htm
2. Strong’s Greek: 3956. Πᾶς (pas) – all, every, n.d., https://biblehub.com/greek/3956.htm
3. Strong’s Greek: 144. αἴσθησις (aisthésis) – perception, n.d., https://biblehub.com/greek/144.htm
