Your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight

 Philippians 1:1-18

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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.

And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

There are several reasons for writing. Paul wanted to explain why he was sending Epaphroditus back. He wanted to thank the Philippians for their gift also to make sure they did not send another one, creating a cycle of gift and return-gift according to the conventions of the day. He had news for them. And what he had heard about them made him long to encourage and advise. Further news reached I'm while he was writing that made it imperative to add a word of warning.

Paul's prayers are full of life, joy, and thankfulness. He longs for them to enjoy progressively richer and deeper spiritual knowledge which will mold their lives to God's pattern.

Why?

I thank my God every time I remember you. And what people will remember me? Good or bad or others? It is important to be a Christian.

Be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. This is the target in our life!

Paul is concerned the gospel could be preached, no matter what motives are. 

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腓利比是保羅進入歐洲的第一個城市！保羅在此不久，僅帶領兩家人信主，呂底亞及獄卒家人，自此福音傳開了，以後建立教會。腓利比教會同心合意興旺福音的教會。一個傳福音的教會！這個成熟的教會，就會繼續增長。這是神在其中工作。我深信那在你們心裡動了善工的，必成全這工：神的工作不會只做一半！

你們都與我一同得恩：為主付代價，奉獻、即使在綑鎖中仍然是恩典！

分別是非（喜愛那美好的事）：

保羅更在意的是福音傳開了。保羅被囚反而使教會更努力傳福音。傳基督為何出於妒忌?看到保羅的教會興旺，以致大家競爭，不甘落後的傳福音。保羅心裏難過的是教會為增長的榮景而難過，神也用人的私心使福音廣傳。我們傳福音是為了自己的成就，還是為了主，討主喜悅！

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How?

May the Holy Spirit help me let my love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight.