Philippians 4:20 - Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Now unto God and, rather, even our Father Or, To our God and Father, as τω Θεω και πατρι ημων properly signifies, be glory for ever Which is justly due, and shall certainly be given to him by those of the angelic host who never fell, and by those of mankind who have been or shall be recovered from their fall. The brethren who are with me My dear fellow-labourers, with whom I daily converse; greet you Sincerely wish you peace and prosperity. These are supposed to be those whom he mentions at the close of his epistle to the Colossians and to Philemon. All the other saints Here at Rome; salute you, chiefly they of Cesar's household See note on Philippians 1:13. It is uncertain whether the apostle meant some of the members of Cesar's family, or his household servants, or the officers of his court, or his guards. Here Beza remarks, “What was this but that God reigned in the midst of hell?” The salutation from the brethren, in the emperor's family, must have been a great consolation to the Philippians. For when they heard that the gospel had got footing in the palace, they would naturally presage the further progress of it in Rome. And the respect which persons, such as the Christians in Cesar's house, here expressed for the Philippians, in sending their salutations to them, must have filled them with joy. And it seems very probable, as Macknight observes, though the apostle has not mentioned it in any of his letters, that, not long after this epistle was written, he obtained a fair hearing, and an honourable release, through the good offices of the Christians in Nero's family, as well as on account of the justice of his cause.