Philippians 4:2-3 2I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche to think the same in the Lord. 3Yes, I ask you also, true comrade, help these women, who have struggled along with me in the gospel and also with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Paul now moves towards the conclusion of this letter. Often letters like this had a closing section that repeats the key ideas of the letter in the form of exhortations, personal greetings, or specific directions about issues in the church. We do not know what caused Euodia and Syntyche to disagree. Paul gives very little information about them, but it appears that they had influence within the Philippian church. Paul gives their names here because people knew who they were. It put social pressure on them to change their ways by mentioning them in this letter, which was intended to be read out loud to the whole church.
What Paul does say about them is significant. First, they struggled along with Paul. They were fellow laborers in the gospel. Neither woman is shown to be evil, nor is one shown to be right and the other wrong. Both had labored with Paul for the sake of the gospel. So this was not a moral problem but some type of disagreement that had the potential to lead to other issues. Wherever you have two or more people, likely you will have disagreement. God has given us the ability to think for ourselves and our thoughts are not always the same. Disagreements can be healthy because they help us see things from a different perspective. Disagreements that are handled in a healthy and loving way can help us and the church grow.
Disagreements can begin small, but they can grow if not dealt with in a healthy way. They can lead to more serious conflict. Conflict can be like a poison that gets into relationships and causes relational and missional sickness and even death. Church conflict sometimes starts with disagreements between two people. Then it spreads to others, and soon people are taking up sides. People will say that one idea is better than another or that other people are wrong. Soon, the conflict can create big problems and division.
Second, these women, along with Clement and other workers in the church, had the names written in the book of life. There was a good team of leaders in this church. The book of life is mentioned in Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27. This is a register of those who have trusted in the blood of the Lamb for their salvation. To have one’s name in this book is a form of confirmation and affirmation that a person has eternal life. Why would Paul bring this up in the context of a disagreement between two ladies? Possibly because the source of agreement will come from their shared faith in Jesus.
Resolution for this potential problem would come from thinking the same in the Lord. They can have the same mind as Christ had. This may have been the situation Paul had in mind when he wrote 2:1-5 and urged the Philippians to have the same mindset of love. The way to reconcile broken relationships or to come to a common agreement is to think like Jesus. This will be shown by unconditionally loving, humbly accepting the other person, patiently encouraging, and putting the needs of others above our own. It will require taking on the cross-lifestyle of Jesus. We must realize that we have a common relationship with the Lord that binds us together as brothers and sisters. We are family. Being family is not an excuse to squabble but for humble service. We need to have the self-emptying type of love towards others that Jesus showed when he went to the cross (2:6-11). Thinking like Jesus leads to acting like Jesus.
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