Born to a romanized family in the province of Arabia, Philip proved by his rise to power and his unopposed acceptance that almost anyone could gain the emperorship. He personally led the celebrations marking 1000 year anniversary of the founding of the eternal city. In 249, some legions declared a new emperor of their own. Philip, being distressed asked the senate for help. When the news was heard in Rome, all the senators kept a frightful silence (lest they should be killed by the next emperor). All of them that is except one man Decius, who raised up to say in contempt that same inconsistency that had created the rival emperor would destroy him. True enough, his prediction came true and impressed Philip greatly.

Once the rival had died, Philip thought it wise to put Decius in charged of the mutinous legions. It was a decision he would later regret. The rebel legions who were still not satisfied forced Decius to be their new emperor. Decius, who did not want the role, now knew that he would be killed if he did not comply. As fate would have it, civil war broke out and in the end the forces of Decius defeated those of Philip. The Praetorian Guard also killed Philips son and other supporters in Rome.