The TO aura ypa<t>eiv is not explained by fusion, for it is even more probable that a redactor would see the break sooner than St. Paul himself would. We must either hold that the reference is to earlier communications which have been lost, or, to ex- plain it of our present letter, admit that we cannot be sure what exactly in it is spoken of, recognizing, however, that the change of tone is quite in the manner of St. Paul. The double t6 'Kmirdv (3' and 4') might lend colour to the view of amalgamation, but it is possible that with St. Paul it is not very much stronger than ovy (cf. Kennedy, EGT, ' Phil- ippians,' in locis, and G. Milligan, Thessalonians, London, 1908, on 1 Th 4'). At any rate in a letter one is not astonished to find such usages. There is nothing in the style either to suggest spurious- ne.ss or fusion. It is simple and artless, rising at times to a rhythmical height. This is clearly seen in 2*'- and also in 4i'-'3 ((;f_ J. Weiss, Beitrage zur paulin. Rhetorik, Gottingen, 1897, pp. 28, 29). One can naturally explain this as due to emotion such as e/en an ordinary preacher often feels and which produces a rhythmic poetic style. 3"" is an iambic trimeter, ^/ioi ix^v ovk dKvtjpdi', 0/j.iv 8^ dcr^aX^s — possibly a quotation, more probably due to accident and unconscious. Baur has noticed the repetition of the same word ( l^- '8- as 2i'-i8- « 32 4'-^ ") and the use of synonyms (l-" 2'- 2- '"• -^).
Certain words occurring nowhere else in St. Paul are suggestive, as dpirri, 4* ; wpoKowri, V" ; B-po<r0i\i; and ffefjLvd (only in Pastoralsl as well as unusual combinations of common words, e.fj. BXi^piv iyeipeiv, i^ofio\oyec<r6ai Sti, to. lix-rrpoaBev (noun). The latter can be explained, however, by LXX usage ; and possibly the former. There is nothing astonishing in St. Paul's acquaintance with such common words, which perhaps came to him through popular
Stoic usage (see Lightfoot, Philippians*, ' St. Paul and Seneca,' p. 270 f.), nor can any safe general inference be drawn from them as to a change in his style away from the LXX towards a more literary form.
A more thorough knowledge of inscriptions has revealed the fact that the Pauline vocabulary and style are largely the natural ones of his time There is no importance to be attached to the re- currence of irXi)!', which in itself is a common word, occurring once in 1 Co U". The quotations from the OT are mere echoes (2'»- ">• '* 4^- '«), save l'» from Job 13", which is evidently quoted with the original context clearly in view. Nothing is more precarious than arguments from style, and in this case account has to be taken of the directness and lack of dogmatic content which were uncalled for by the circumstances. All things considered, the style and vocabulary are genuinely Pauline.
6. Date and place of origin. — The solution of the second question largely determines the first. There is no definite Abfassungsort mentioned in the letter itself, so that we are thrown back on internal evidence, and have to determine what period of St. Paul's life best suits the circum- stances. He was a prisoner (1'). He had Ijeen a prisoner for some time, for the Philippians had sent Epaphroditus to him with a gift of money under the impression that he needed it. The messenger had arrived and fallen ill. The news of his illness had reached them (either orally or in writing), and they had again sent communi- cations expressing their anxiety. Some change had taken place in St. Paul's circumstances since he became a prisoner, which they construed pessi- mistically. The Apostle informs them that already he had made his apologia with gratifying results (1'), evidently a preliminary defence before the judicial authorities. The result was that the brethren were thereby encouraged to resume their preaching of Christ with greater freedom and boldness. Wherever he was, there were many preachers, some of them opposed to his views of Christianity, others favourable. He rejoiced in the renewed energy of both as far as objective results went, though he could not but deplore the motives of those who disagreed with him. He is contident that the issue of his affairs at present will be final deliverance, and that he will soon see them again (2^). If, however, it should otherwise happen, then before he is finally condemned — the case is not yet settled — he will speak with such clearness and boldness that Christ shall be magni- fied in his body either by life or death. By death he would see Christ face to face {aiii' Xpiarif), their faith already established w^ould be perfected (2"). The possibility of death is always a real one, im- prisonment or no imprisonment, but it is no ground of despondency. At present he proposes to send Timothy to them, but let them be sure that his own coming will follow shortly thereafter, for he has every reason to regard hopefully his situation. In the whole Pr.ietorium his imprisonment is viewed in the proper light. Misunderstandings regarding the nature of the charge against him have been removed owing to recent events, and this is the case generally. He is glad to tell them that, besides the brethren with liim, the saints of Caesar's household especially send their Christian greetings. He deplores that he had no one to send to them at present, as his associates at the time refused to go as envoys (2-").