Philippians 1:1 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Paul and Timotheus, servants of Jesus Christ St. Paul, writing familiarly to the Philippians, does not style himself an apostle. And under the common title of servants, he tenderly and modestly joins with himself his son Timothy, who had attended him in his general travels in those parts, had come with him to Philippi, not long after the apostle had received him, (Acts 16:3; Acts 16:12,) and had doubtless assisted him in preaching the gospel there. To all the saints The apostolic epistles were sent more directly to the churches, than to the pastors of them; with the bishops and deacons The former properly took care of the internal, or spiritual state of the church, the latter of the externals, 1 Timothy 3:2-8; although these were not wholly confined to the one, nor those to the other. The word επισκοποι, bishops, or overseers, here includes all the presbyters at Philippi, as well as the ruling presbyters: the names bishop and presbyter, or elder, being promiscuously used in the first ages. See on Acts 20:28. Grace be unto you, &c. See on Romans 1:7.