Philippians 4:2,3

2, I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Translation and Paraphrase

2. I urge (our sister) Euodia and (our sister) Syntyche to be in agreement (as Christians) in the Lord (all the time).
3. Yes, and I request you (also, my) sincere (and genuine) brother who bears the yoke (of Christ) with me, (take hold of this problem, and) help these women, who have labored with danger and suffering in the (work of the) gospel with me, and (with) Clement, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.

Notes

1.

4:2-3 is an exhortation to two women at Philippi, named Euodia and Syntyche, to stop their quarrelling and to agree together in the Lord. Paul further calls on the preacher (?) at Philippi to help these women get along better with one another. (The KJV spelling Euodias, a masculine form of the name, is incorrect.)

2.

Paul urged Euodia and Syntyche separately to be of the same mind. This indicates emphasis.

3.

Be of the same mind, that is, be harmonious. Compare Philippians 2:2; Romans 12:16; Romans 15:5; 2 Corinthians 13:11.

4.

It is a bit tantalizing to realize that we know almost nothing about Euodia and Syntyche except that they were having a disagreement. Besides this we know only that they had previously labored in the gospel with Paul and certain others.

So very often the Bible tells only a few facts about people. Yet strangely these few facts often give us vivid impressions about the character of these people. We wonder what might be written about us if an inspired writer were to write a one-sentence summary of our lives. It might not be flattering!

5.

The reference to Euodia and Syntyche reminds us that women played a prominent part in the activities of many local churches in New Testament times. We read about the womenfolk in Macedonia in Acts 16:13-14; Acts 17:4; Acts 17:12. There is no real reason to believe, however, that the women in Macedonian and Greek churches took a more prominent part in the church life than the women did elsewhere.

6.

Paul's true (that is, sincere, natural-born) yokefellow was called upon to help Euodia and Syntyche to come to agreement. Paul mobilized the whole church to help mend a quarrel.

The term yokefellow means one joined with another under a yoke. Jesus said, Take my yoke upon you. (Matthew 11:29). All who take His yoke are yokefellows.

Some scholars have suggested that the Greek word for yokefellow (suzugos, or sunzugos) is a proper name, Synzygus. This is a possibility, although the word is not known as a proper name elsewhere in contemporary literature. Some have speculated that he may have been the husband of Euodia or Syntyche. Others have thought that he might be Timothy or Epaphroditus. No one knows.

It seems to us that most likely the true yokefellow was simply the local preacher or evangelist at Philippi. The church at Philippi had more than one elder and more than one deacon (Philippians 1:1), so obviously the particular yokefellow in mind was not one of these officers.

7.

Euodia and Syntyche had labored (Gr. sunathleo) with Paul in the gospel. This verb indicates activity attended with danger and suffering. It is used only here and in Philippians 1:27. The related verb athleo is used elsewhere, and refers to contending in athletic games (2 Timothy 2:5), and also to contending in battle.

8.

A little contention can cause so much distress in a local church that it outweighs a lot of good service. Compare Ecclesiastes 10:1. Thus the good work that Euodia and Syntyche had done was being clouded over by their later disagreement.

9.

The Clement to whom Paul refers was some familiar Philippian Christian, judging by the familiar way he is referred to. We know nothing else about him besides the incidental reference here. He is not the famous Clement of Rome, who lived much later (about 95 A.D.), and certainly not the great Clement of Alexandria, who lived about 190 A.D.

10.

The names of Paul's fellow laborers ARE (not might be) in the book of life.

The book of life, elsewhere called the Lamb's (Jesus-') book of life) is the book which contains the names of all saved people, It is elsewhere referred to or alluded to in Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 17:8; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 20:15; Luke 10:20; Exodus 32:32-33; Psalms 69:28; Daniel 12:1; Ezekiel 13:9 (?); Isaiah 4:3 (?).

11.

Life in an early church:

(1)

Involved toil; (Philippians 4:3)

(2)

Gave a prominent place to women;

(3)

Centered about personalities;

(4)

Was not always harmonious,