James Moffatt

“ Paul is on the edge and eve of the great decision. Behind him (i. 12–13) lies a period during which considerable progress has been made in the local preaching and extension of the gospel, nor does the language of the apostle suggest that this fresh departure in the propaganda was stimulated by the mere novelty of his arrival. furthermore, the relations between the Philippians and himself presuppose, on any fair estimate, an interval of time which cannot be crushed into a few months. ”

“ After a brief greeting (i. 1, 2) , Paul assures them of his loving interest in their present attainments and future progress in the faith of the gospel (i. 3–11) , then, relieving their anxiety about his own prospects, he expresses the confident hope that he will be released and thus be able to return to them (i. 12–26) . Meantime they were to avoid any pride or fractiousness which might break their unity [1] as a church (i. 27–ii. 18) , and they are promised a visit from two of Paul's coadjutors, [2] who are well known to them (ii. 19–30) . ”

“ But the whole tone of the epistle suggests that Paul expected a speedy end to his case. Now at Caesarea this was out of the question. His appeal to Caesar involved a protracted process, and it is very difficult to put expressions like those e.g. of ii. 23 into such a situation. The critical outlook of Philippians does not correspond with the position of the apostle at Caesarea, nor can the latter town be said to have been a centre of vigorous Christian propaganda (i. 17) . ”