Section 8
ability to sense things. Paul did not want the Philippians to love in a foolish way. On the con trary, he encouraged them to love with a mind full of knowledge and discernment, sensitive perception, and moral tact.
The knowledge and discernment about which Paul speaks in Philippians 1:9 are actually Christ Himself. When we experience Christ, He be comes our knowledge and discernment. The rea son we lack the knowledge and the discernment to differentiate between the different kinds of preaching is that we are short of the experience of Christ.
DISCERNMENT
According to the context of 1:9, Paul's mean ing was that the Philippians needed knowledge and discernment to distinguish between Paul's preaching and that of the Judaistic believers. Deep within, Paul realized that some of the Phi lippians had been distracted by the preaching of the Judaistic believers. In these verses Paul seemed to be saying, "Philippians, certain of you have been distracted from God's economy by the preaching of the Judaistic believers. I agree that you need to love these people. However, your love should abound in full knowledge and all discernment.