This letter was probably written in the early 60's AD. We know that Paul wrote it from prison, but the letter does not specify which prison. The most likely answer is that it was written while he was in Rome. There he was held for two years before his trial. This was more house arrest than jail, which is why he had the freedom to write letters.
Whereas Romans gives an almost theoretical grounding for the gospel, Philippians is focused on the practical., but its theology is no less profound. We learn both by a combination of studying the Bible and seeing how things work out in real life.
One of the great themes of the letter is joy. This letter was written by a man who, as he says in chapter 4, had learnt to be content in all circumstances. He knew what it was to know the joy of the Lord, and as it says in Nehemiah 8:10, the joy of the Lord is our strength.
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