That this was written after the others that were sent from Rome by Paul
during this imprisonment, is proved by several circumstances. Luke was
certainly with him when he wrote to the Colossians and to Philemon; but
no mention whatever is made of him in the epistle to the Philippians,
who would, nevertheless, feel as much interest in him as in Timothy or
any companion of Paul; because he had resided in Philippi many years,
and must have had many acquaintances there, who would expect some
account of him, and some salutation from him. Paul, moreover, says,
that he trusts to send Timothy shortly to them, because he has no
man with him who is like minded, or who will care for their state;――a
remark which, if Luke had been with him, he could not have made with
any justice to that faithful and diligent associate, who was himself a
personal acquaintance of the Philippians. There were some circumstances
connected with the situation of Paul, as referred to in this epistle,
which seem to imply a different date from those epistles just mentioned.
His condition seems improved in many respects, although before not
uncomfortable, and his expectations of release still more confident,
though before so strong. He speaks also of a new and remarkable field
in which his preaching had been successful, and that is, the palace
of the imperial Caesar himself, among whose household attendants were
many now numbered among the saints who sent salutations to Philippi.
The terms in which he mentions his approaching release, are still more
remarkable than those in the former epistles. He says――“Having this
_confidence_, I _know_ that I shall abide and continue with you all,”
&c. “that your rejoicing may be more abundant, by my coming to you
again.” “I trust in the Lord that I shall myself also come shortly.”
The immediate occasion of this epistle was the return of Epaphroditus,
the _apostle_ or messenger of the Philippian church, by whom Paul
now wrote this, as a grateful acknowledgment of their generosity in
contributing to his support that money, of which Epaphroditus was the
bearer. In the epistle, he also took occasion, after giving them an
account of his life in Rome, to warn them against the errors of the
Judaizers, whose doctrines were the occasion of so much difficulty in
the Christian churches.