Salutations and Final Blessing (Philippians 4:21–23)

St. Paul concludes his Epistle with general greetings (Phil. 4:21–22) and his customary subscription (Phil. 4:23).

Phil. 4:21. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.

“Greet”—convey my greetings, my bow, my good wishes. “Every saint”—every believer, consecrated in the waters of baptism, who has made a vow to live in holiness and for that reason has received the grace of the Holy Spirit, so as to be able to fulfill this vow faithfully—throughout his whole life not allowing not only deeds, but also words and thoughts, that are displeasing to God and contrary to His holiness and our own.

“In Christ Jesus.” No one can be holy in any other way than in Christ Jesus. For the sake of faith in Him, the forgiveness of sins is granted; through baptism into His death, a new life is born; and the grace of the Holy Spirit is given by Him; and all subsequent holy life is the fruit of His working in us—when we surrender ourselves to Him entirely, expecting nothing from ourselves without His cooperation and all-working, and relying on ourselves in nothing.

He expresses a general good wish to them; but “even this is no small thing; for to greet them even in this way is a sign of great love” (St. Chrysostom).

“The brethren who are with me greet you.” He does not name them, probably because they were not known to the Philippians. From his earlier account it is evident that his most well-known companions were not with him—apart from St. Timothy; and those of the newly converted who were there had not yet advanced far in self-denial. This did not, however, prevent them from being brethren of all Christians—and sincere brethren, well-disposed toward all Christians and ready to be in fellowship with them. Having become acquainted with Epaphroditus, they also became acquainted with his compatriots. Therefore they were able to convey their good wishes to the Philippians genuinely; and this is what the holy Apostle does—for he writes not on his own initiative as though merely for form’s sake, but at their desire and request.

Phil. 4:22. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

There he conveyed a greeting from those who were constantly with him; here he sends a greeting from all the believers throughout the city. In those days the fellowship of believers was most sincere. Gathering at St. Paul’s side for prayer, for holy Communion—for that was always the first thing, and all strove to receive Communion every day when possible—and to hear the Apostle of the Lord’s instructions, they all became acquainted with Epaphroditus, and through him with all the Philippians as well; and when they heard that Epaphroditus was returning, they expressed to the Apostle their wish that he should greet the Philippians in their name. Not only did all the believers send greetings—but also those from Caesar’s household. And these last, “especially.” Why especially? Because they had evidently come to love the Philippians more than the others, on account of their generosity toward St. Paul; or because they had heard more praises of the Philippians from the Apostle than others had; or for some other reason. Evidently they expressed more insistently their desire to greet the Philippians and showed a warmer goodwill toward them. The Apostle therefore added: “especially.” Who were those from Caesar’s household? Perhaps some of Caesar’s relatives, perhaps some who merely lived in his house. But evidently they were such that it was worth mentioning them separately.

St. Chrysostom says of this: “The Apostle encouraged and animated the Philippians by showing that the teaching had reached even the royal house. For if those who lived in the royal palace had despised everything for the sake of the heavenly, all the more were the Philippians obliged to do the same. And it was a proof of Paul’s love that he recounts and speaks of them many important things, by which he also stirred in the courtiers the desire to greet those whom they had never seen. Since the believers in those days were under oppression, there was great love among them. How so? In such a way that those who were far apart from one another were mutually united; and those who were at a distance greeted one another as though they lived nearby; each was disposed toward the others as toward his own members. The poor person was disposed toward the rich, just as the rich toward the poor; and there was no superiority, for all were equally hated and persecuted, and for the same cause. For just as prisoners from various cities, gathered into one city, form close friendships because a common misfortune unites them—so too did the believers of that time, when common hardships and tribulations united them, have great love for one another.”

Phil. 4:23. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

“At the end the Apostle added his customary blessing. May we too attain it, through the intercession of him who wrote this and through the assistance of the Lord Christ.”

“To Him be glory with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages” (Blessed Theodoret).