John Philip was born in Montabaur. He became the general vicar of the upper diocese, and in 1742 was made a governor. With French support, in 1754 he was promoted to be the coadjutor and designated successor of Archbishop Francis George of Schönborn-Buchheim. In 1756 after Francis died John Philip succeeded him, and in 1763 he was also elected the Bishop of Worms. John Philip rebuilt the residence of the archbishops in Trier, Engers in Coblenz, and his family's castle of Molsberg in Westerwald. He died in 1768.