After his mother died, on 6 January 1525, he received his education at the court of his maternal grandfather in Heidelberg.

However, in the 1532 treaty with Barnim, part of her Wittum was awarded to his uncle, and was thus no longer his to give to his step-mother.

They called a parliament in Treptow an der Rega in 1543 and invited Erasmus von Manteuffel-Arnhausen, the bishop of Cammin and representatives of the estates, the nobility and the cities.

The parliament failed due to opposition by the nobility, but nevertheless, Bugenhagen was tasked with drafting a church order for the duchy.

The Reformation gradually prevailed in Pomerania through the tireless activity of prominent evangelical leaders such as Paul Rode and John Knipstro.

The changing circumstances made work increasingly hard for bishop Suawe and in 1549, he resigned.

The attempt failed, and to ensure independence of his church, Philip appointed his eldest son John Frederick as bishop of Cammin.

In 1540, he managed to settle a dispute with the nobility that had festered since 1534, so he could finally receive general homage from the Estates.

The ducal residence Wolgast Castle, on an island in the river Peene, was rebuilt in several stages.