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Little is known about Philip's early life and political career. He was born in Damascus in the Roman province of Syria. He was the son of a Julius Marinus, a local Roman citizen, possibly of some importance. The name of his mother is unknown, but sources refer to a brother, Gaius Julius Priscus, a member of the Praetorian guard under Gordian III. Philip married Marcia Otacilia Severa and had a son named Marcus Julius Severus Philippus in 238.

In 243, during Gordian's campaign against the Persians, the Praetorian prefect Timesitheus died under unclear circumstances. At the suggestion of his brother Priscus, Philip became the new Praetorian prefect, with the intention that the two brothers would control the young emperor and rule the Roman world as unofficial regents. Following a military defeat, Gordian was killed by mutinous soldiers somewhere near the Euphrates River. Philip is universally held responsible for this mutiny, especially as he was proclaimed emperor after Gordian's death. Philip was not willing to repeat the mistakes of previous usurpers, and was aware that he had to return to Rome in order to secure his position with the senate. He thus travelled west, after concluding a peace treaty with king Shapur I of Persia, and left his brother Priscus as extraordinary ruler of the Eastern provinces. In Rome he was confirmed emperor, and nominated his young son Caesar and heir.

Philip's rule started with yet another Germanic incursion on the provinces of PannoniaPannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. Today, Pannonia is largely identical with what is called " Transdanubia" in Hungary. and the GothsThis article is about the Germanic tribes. For the late 20th century youth subculture see Goth. The Goths were a Germanic tribe which according to their own traditions originated in southern Sweden (cf. Gotaland and Gotland). They migrated southwards and invaded MoesiaIn ancient geography, Moesia was a district inhabited by a Thracian people. It was bounded on the south by the mountain ranges of Haemus and Scardus (Scordus, Scodrus), on the west by the Drinus, on the north by the Danube and on the east by the Euxine. (modern-day BulgariaThe Republic of Bulgaria is a republic in the southeast of Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the east, Greece and Turkey to the south, Serbia and Montenegro and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Romania to the north along the river Danube.) in the Danube frontier. They were finally defeated in 248, but the legionsSee also Legion software and Legion forummer. The Roman legion (from the Latin legio meaning levy) was the basic military unit of ancient Rome. It consisted of about 5,000 to 6,000 (later 8,000) infantry soldiers and several hundred cavalrymen. Legions we were not satisfied with the result, probably due to a low share of the plunder, if any. Rebellion soon arose and Tiberius Claudius PacatianusTiberius Claudius Marinus Pacatianus was an usurper in the Danube area of the Roman Empire during the time of Philip the Arab, ca. He is known from coins, and from mentions in Zosimus and Zonaras, who say that he was an officer in one of the Danube legion was proclaimed emperor by the troops. The uprising was crushed and Philip nominated Gaius Messius Quintus DeciusGaius Messius Quintus Trajanus Decius ( 201- 251), Roman emperor ( 249 251), the first of the long succession of distinguished men from the Illyrian provinces, was born at Budalia near Sirmium in lower Pannonia. About 245 the emperor Philip the Arabian en as governor of the province. Future events would prove this to be a mistake. Pacantius' revolt was not the only threat to his rule: in the East, Marcus Iotapianus led another uprising in response to the oppressive rule of Priscus and the excessive taxation of the Eastern provinces. Another two usurpers Marcus Silbannacus and Sponsianus are reported to have started rebellions without much success.

In April 248, Philip had the honour to lead the celebrations of the one thousandth birthday of Rome, founded in 753 BC by Romulus (see founding of Rome). According to contemporary accounts, the festivities were magnificent and included spectacular games and theatrical presentations throughout the city. The events were also celebrated in literature, with several publications, including Quadratus 's History of a Thousand Years, specially prepared for the anniversary.

Despite the festive atmosphere, discontent in the legions was growing. Decius was proclaimed emperor by the Danubian armies in the spring of 249 and immediately marched to Rome. Philip's army met the usurper near modern Verona that summer. Decius won the battle and Philip was killed, either in the fighting or assassinated by his own soldiers who were eager to please the new ruler. When the news of Decius' success reached Rome, Marcus Julius Severus Philippus, Philip's eleven-year-old son and heir, was also murdered.

Later tradition, including the historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History, stated that Philip was the first Christian Roman emperor. This is doubtful because non-Christian writers do not mention the fact, and throughout his reign Philip continued to follow the state religion. Eusebius' claim is probably due to the tolerance Philip showed towards Christians.