Philippians 4:2-3

Passage

I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche to think the same in the Lord.  Yes, I ask even you, my coworkers, join in helping these women who joined in the labor of the Gospel with me and even with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Paul appeals to two women in this letter to think the same things that Paul wrote earlier.  Paul’s ultimate goal for the church is unity in proclamation.  It is not good for us to argue among each other; it is even less good that we should proclaim different things.  The more we divide over truly less important theological ideals the more we send a message to the world that we aren’t actually focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Indeed, what we see here is that the concept of division is so important that Paul attempts to mobilize the whole resources of the church to resolve the division.

How can unity come from focusing on Jesus Christ?  How does our division come when we focus elsewhere besides Jesus Christ?

Second Thought:

We can learn much about women in ministry from this passage.  First we can learn that Euodia and Syntyche were powerful in the Philippian church.  If their division is causing conflict enough so that Paul is hearing about it in jail elsewhere, they must be of significant importance.  Paul doesn’t take the opportunity to chastise the church for allowing them to becoming leaders – so Paul must not have actually had the issue against women in ministry that many claim him to have.  Second, Paul actually says of them that they labored with him and all the other people in Philippi.  The words he uses here are not words one would use of a mentor, a servant, or slave.  Paul calls them co-workers.  Actually, in one case the term is actually understood to be co-yoked.  These women shared an equal burden with Paul in the work of the Gospel.  This is yet another passage that shows the importance Paul placed on the role of women in the church.  {Don’t forget that the church in Philippi began with Lydia as taught in Acts 16!}

Why is it important to see these women not as servants under Paul but as ones being co-yoked with Paul?  What can we learn from this passage about Paul’s understanding of church hierarchy with respect to power?

Third Thought:

Paul talks here about the book of life.  This is a fairly vague reference.  The idea is that God is keeping track of His own.  God knows who belongs to Him.  Even in the midst of our flaws and failings, God knows who belongs.  How comforting is it that even in the midst of our humanity God can tell which of us belongs to Him!

How does it make you feel to realize in Christ that you are God’s?  What emotions would you speak of to describe your reaction to your name being present in God’s book of life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 4:4-7