Philippians 1:10 - Exposition

That ye may approve things that are excellent . Love, issuing in spiritual discernment, would enable them to recognize, to test, to prove things that are excellent; so Bengel, " Non modo prae malts bona, seal in bonds optima ." This seems better than the alternative rendering, " to prove the things that differ" (comp. Romans 2:18 ). That ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ . εἰλικρινής according to the common derivation (from εἵλη , sunlight, and κρίνω ), means "judged in the full light of the sun," that is, pure, true; comp. John 2:21 , "He that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." According to another possible derivation, the word would mean "unmixed," that is, genuine, sincere. "Without offense" may be taken actively or passively; without giving offense (causing stumbling) to others, or without stumbling themselves. Perhaps the latter sense is more suitable here. He prays that the Philippians may be true and pure inwardly, and blameless in their outward lives. "Till," rather, "against the day of Christ." The preposition εἰς does not denote time only, as ἄχρις in Verse 6; it implies preparation.