Philippians 1:9

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all discernment.

Pink's amazing deductions from this verse are to the effect that in contrast to the amazing love of the Philippians, they had an inadequate understanding of the mind of Christ, and that Paul longed for a better balance in their characters. "Therefore he prayed (not as most of us need to pray - that our love may be in proportion to our light) but that their intelligence may be commensurate with their affections.[23] He compared the Philippians to certain simple but sincere Christians of all ages whose affections exceeded their knowledge. Their state, if such is the proper understanding of it, was just the opposite of that of the Corinthians whose vaunted "knowledge" contrasted with their inadequate love one of another.

That your love may abound ... The Greek word rendered "love" here is [@agape], not [@eros] or [@fileo].[24] Despite any deficiencies in their "knowledge," Paul heartily approved of the abounding love of the Philippians.

[23] Arthur W. Pink, Gleanings from Paul (Chicago: Moody Press, 1967), p. 200.

[24] John A. Knight, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. IX, Philippians (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1965), p. 295.