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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Php_4:2-3
IUrge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 2Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Php_4:2 "Euodia...Syntyche" Apparently, even in this loving church there is still internal tension. This does not refer to doctrinal tension, which was mentioned in chapter 3, but to fellowship tension of some sort. This first proper name means "a prosperous journey or success." The second name means "pleasant acquaintance" or "good luck." Their names did not match their current actions. In Macedonia women had more freedom than anywhere in the ancient Roman world (cf. Act_16:12-15). Sometimes freedom turns into personal preference or even license.
▣ "live in harmony in the Lord" The key to harmony is the believers' relationship to Christ which radically transforms their relationships with their covenant brothers and sisters. Believers' love for God is clearly seen in their love for one another (cf. Eph_4:1-6; Eph_2:1-5; 1Jn_4:20-21).
Php_4:3
NASB, NKJV "true comrade"
NRSV "loyal companion"
TEV "faithful partner"
NJB "partner"
This is often translated literally as "yoke-fellow" (cf. Arndt and Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p.783). However, it is a masculine singular noun which, in a list of so many other names, possibly was a proper name itself, Syzygus (cf. NJB and Moulton and Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament, p. 607), which would have been a play on the meaning of the name.
It is possible that this was Paul's way of referring to Luke. The "we" sections of Acts start and stop at Philippi. Luke may have stayed there to help the new converts and collect the offering for the church in Jerusalem.
▣ "to help these women" This is a present middle imperative which literally means "take hold with." Paul was admonishing one of the members of the Philippian church to help these two women overcome their differences in the Lord (cf. Gal_6:1-4).
NASB "who shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel"
NKJV "labored with me"
NRSV "struggled beside me"
TEV "have worked hard with me"
NJB "have struggled hard"
This term is only used here and in Php_1:27. It is a military or athletic term for a "hard fight." It is metaphorical for the intensity of gospel work. These women helped Paul in his evangelistic mission work. Many of Paul's helpers mentioned in Romans 16 were women. Even missionaries have disagreements (cf. Act_15:36-41). How they solve them as Christians is the issue, and the witness!
▣ "Clement" This is a common name in the Roman world. This person is mentioned nowhere else in the NT. However, Origen of Alexandria, Eusebius, and Jerome believed that it refers to Clement of Rome who wrote a letter to the Corinthian church sometime toward the end of the first century (a.d. 95). However, this identification seems highly speculative.
▣ "and the rest of my fellow-workers" Paul was willing to use many helpers in his gospel work. He was no prima-donna; he apparently delegated responsibility to other men and women. It is interesting to note in Romans 16 how many women's names appear as helpers of Paul.
▣ "whose names are in the book of life" This may refer to the registration of the covenant people in the OT (cf. Dan_7:10; Dan_12:1) which was metaphorical of God's memory. There are two books mentioned in Dan_7:10 and Rev_20:12-15 : (1) the book of remembrances and (2) the book of life. The book of remembrances includes the names and deeds of both the redeemed and the lost (cf. Psa_58:6; Psa_139:16; Isa_65:6; Mal_3:16). The book of life includes the names of the redeemed and can be seen in Exo_32:32; Psa_69:28; Isa_4:3; Dan_12:1; Luk_10:20; Php_4:3; Heb_12:23; Rev_3:5; Rev_13:8; Rev_17:8; Rev_20:12; Rev_20:15; Rev_21:27. God knows those who are His. He will reward His followers and judge the wicked (cf. Mat_25:31-46; Rev_20:11-15). In the Greco-Roman world this term referred to the official registration of a city; if so, it might have been another play on this city's official status as a Roman colony (cf. Php_1:27; Php_3:20).