Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 1:8

"For God is my witness, how I long after you all in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus." — Philippians 1:8 (ASV)

Only God could truly vouch for Paul’s feelings about his Philippian friends, because they ran so deep. These yearnings for this church were prompted by the “affection of Christ Jesus,” with whom Paul was in vital union. The indwelling Christ was producing the fruit of love in Paul by the Holy Spirit, enabling him to yearn for their welfare with the compassion of his Lord.