First Conclusion: Call to Rejoice

“With this communication about Epaphroditus now the epistle seems to be at an end” (Ewald, ad loc.). If so, nothing remains but a final word of greeting. The reader is therefore prepared for Finally.

3:1 Finally: the natural inference from this phrase (drawn by most commentators) is that Paul is on the point of finishing his letter. If the letter be regarded as a unity, it must be assumed that something suddenly occurred to him which prompted the warning of verse 2 with its sequel.

The exhortation to rejoice is expressed in a word (Gk. chairete) which is also a common form of greeting: “hail” or (less often) “farewell.” The language here, Finally, my brothers, rejoice … (Gk. to loipon, adelphoi mou, chairete …), is very similar to that in 2 Corinthians …