And the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life: There were others in Philippi who also helped Paul. If you had to have your whole life summed up in one sentence, would you like it to be summed up like Clement or like Euodia and Syntyche?Ĭ. We can contrast the brief mention of Euodia and Syntyche with the brief mention of Clement. Yet we don’t know if this is the same Clement. With Clement also: There was a notable Clement in the early church who was the leader of the church in Rome and wrote two preserved letters to the church in Corinth. Paul knew that this unfortunate dispute needed to be cleared up.ī. Yet, they had a falling out with each other. These two women, Euodia and Syntyche, were faithful workers with Paul in the work of the gospel. These women who labored with me in the gospel is a telling phrase. The true companion was supposed to help these women to reconcile and come to one mind in the Lord. I urge you also, true companion: Whoever this was, Paul instructed them to help these women who labored with me in the gospel. (3) Instructions to the true companion.Īnd I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.Ī. They forgot that everything else was less important than that common ground. To be of the same mind in the Lord: Whatever the dispute was about, Euodia and Syntyche had forgotten that they have a greater common ground in Jesus Christ. Instead of taking sides or trying to solve their problem, Paul simply told them to be of the same mind in the Lord.ī. Euodia and… Syntyche: Apparently these two women were the source of some sort of quarrel in the church. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord.Ī.
So stand fast in the Lord, beloved: We can only stand fast when we are in the Lord any other place is not a secure place to stand. The Philippians, as they stand fast in the Lord, were Paul’s trophy.Ĭ. It was a crown of achievement (a stephanos) not the crown that was given to a king (a diadema). My joy and crown: Paul used the ancient Greek word for crown that described the crown given to an athlete who had won the race. Because of the promise of resurrection (Philippians 3:21), the Philippians had all the more reason to stand fast in the Lord.ī. Therefore: This links together what Paul wrote here with what he wrote before. Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.Ī.
(1) A general exhortation: in light of your destiny in Christ, stand fast. Philippians 4 – Peace and Joy in All Circumstances A.