Philippians 1:9 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

And this I pray: having praised God for their attainments, he returns, \as Philippians 1:4\ in token of his love, to his great petition for them. That your love may abound; viz. that their love both to God and man, showed in their bounty to him, might, as a rising stream from its springing fountain, yet further flow out, and more abundantly communicate itself in all Christian offices, and not abate, (as it seems it afterwards did among the Ephesians, Revelation 2:4), as our Saviour foretold it would (to in some, Matthew 24:12, \see 2 Timothy 1:13 2 Timothy 4:10\ but continue increasing to the end, 1 Thessalonians 3:12. Yet more and more in knowledge; being founded on a sound and saving understanding of the things of God, and ourselves, 1 Thessalonians 17:3 Romans 3:20 Ephesians 1:17, with Ephesians 4:13 2 Peter 3:18; and an acknowledgment of the truth which is after godliness, Titus 1:1. And in all judgment; in the practical judgment, or internal sense, and particular experience, taste, and feeling the testimony of the Spirit in the heart concerning the grace of God, and adoption, Romans 5:1,5 Romans 8:16,17 14:17; when there is not only a right notion in the head, but a true sense and savour of spiritual things in the heart, Hebrews 5:14; which is when knowledge is not only an empty cloud in the air, but becomes effectual by falling down in a kindly shower upon the heart, warmed with the love of God, and the virtue of Christ's resurrection, as he after gives his own experience, Philippians 3:10, like David s, Psalms 34:8.