GetWisdom PaperturnSampler FINAL SinglePages - Flipbook - Page 114
50
.
LIVING FOR WHAT REALLY MATTERS
That’s a lot of love, right? Paul doesn’t specify whom we should love
this way, which can only mean one thing: We need to love everyone—
whether or not we think they’re worthy or we like them or we want to.
You know why? Because Jesus loves them (John 13:34-35).
“With knowledge and all discernment” (verse 9)
Paul is also asking that the Philippians’ love would abound “in
knowledge and depth of insight” (niv; “real knowledge and all discernment” in the nasb). (And don’t forget—while Paul is writing this
to the Philippians, these words are also for us!)
Picking up my phone again and heading to this passage in the
BLB, I see that real knowledge or epignsis (πγνωσις, pronounced epi-gno-sis) means “precise and correct knowledge . . . of things ethical
and divine.”21 Correct knowledge means to be in possession of precise
and exact understanding of something. But how is this different from
discernment?
7. Go to the Interlinear for Philippians 1:9 on the BLB, and look
up aisthsis (ασθησις, pronounced ais-thay-sis). How would you
differentiate this from correct knowledge?
Discernment has to do with perception—understanding connected to our hearts and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Knowledge has
to do with information, understanding in relation to our brains.
Discernment and knowledge are both important. Love doesn’t mean
ignoring poor behavior, character, or choices; knowledge informs
our understanding of right and wrong, wise and unwise. But even
as we understand those things, discernment helps us to know how
to respond—how to speak life and not judgment into other people.
Discernment also leads us to guide, protect, and place boundaries.
112