Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 40

Paul Reminds the Church @ Philippi to be Strong in Christ, to be of One Mind, Oneness or Unity and to Help One Another

Philippians 4:1-3 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. KJV

As Paul continues his descent into the close of this letter, he reminds these brethren how much they mean to him by saying, “Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.” (Philippians 4:1) (KJV). Paul begins by using the word “therefore” as the logical conclusion to what he has just written in the last two verses of Chapter 3 highlighting their/our true citizenship being in heaven where Christ is seated right now and the glorious glorified body that they/we will receive from Him at His second coming. These Philippians were Gentile aliens from the true knowledge of God when Paul first came into their city, but by virtue of his proclamation of the Gospel of Grace, God the Holy Spirit has translated them into the Body of Jesus Christ making each one of them sons and daughters of God forever, and Paul wants them to recognize his deep affection for them as well as his desire to see them again in person as he had already said earlier in this same letter with these words at the very beginning, “For God is my witness how I long for {and} pursue you all with love, in the tender mercy of Christ Jesus [Himself]!” (Philippians 1:8) (Amplified Bible).  

Paul’s joy and his crown was not in his earthly wealth or any other temporal things, but that these Gentile Philippians no longer were aliens or strangers from the One True God as he declared with these words to the Gentile Colossians concerning their conversion to Christ, “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:9-14) (NKJV). With all of this in mind, Paul wants them/us to “stand fast” in Christ Jesus our Lord and this English phrase “stand fast” is translated by one Greek word steko which means to be stationary (not inactive) or to abide and continue, that is, (figuratively) to persevere: - stand (fast).

In other words, Paul wants them/us to understand that there is zero strength or power in each one of us, but “in Christ” we are supplied or equipped with His Power and His Strength for every spiritual battle we face, with our ongoing battle with the world, our flesh, and the devil (Romans 8:11) as he said to the Ephesian believers with these words, “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies {and} the deceits of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10-11) (Amplified Bible). Having expressed such compassion, care, and concern for them, Paul now wants to counsel or give spiritual guidance to two of the believers that were at odds with one another over some issues or personality conflict as he declares with these words, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.” (Philippians 4:2) (KJV).

The English word beseech is translated by the Greek word parakaleo meaning to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, exhortation or consolation): We don’t know exactly if both of these believers were women or not, but what we do know from the text is that Paul wanted them to exercise the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) seeking to please Him in all things and letting non-essential matters not become stumbling blocks or causes for contention just as he beseeched the Corinthian believers saying this, “But I urge {and} entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony {and} full agreement in what you say, and that there be no dissensions {or} factions {or} divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions {and} judgments.” (1 Corinthians 1:10) (Amplified Bible). Unity or oneness among believers is the entire theme of Paul’s letter written here to these believers @ Philippi. It is the disagreements, conflicts, and dissensions among supposed believers, i.e. varied beliefs among different Denominations and Churches (that all claim to worship Jesus Christ) that gives the Gospel of Jesus Christ a bad or poor reputation, however, this will never subdue the Power of the Gospel (Romans 1:16) to save sinners, but it does cause seeking sinners to turn away for a time period or season because of the conflict they might witness.

Paul now exhorts and encourages them to what should be common to them/us and that is assisting one another where needed as he declares with these words, “And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Philippians 4:3) (KJV). Paul makes a personal entreaty or request to a particular person in the Church @ Philippi and calls this person “yokefellow” which is translated by the Greek word suzugos (used only this one time in the New Testament) which means co-yoked, that is, (figuratively) as noun, a colleague; probably rather as proper name; Syzygus, a Christian: Whomever, this person was, Paul trusted them and considered them to sincerely belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, he singles them out in his request to give help (whatever was needed) to the women from that Church who helped Paul get the Gospel of Christ out in their land.

Paul, like, our Lord Jesus relied on all Christians men and women to help him in the service of Christ. It was no secret that during this time of humanity, that women in practically every part of the known world were declared and treated as second class citizens, in some cases, they were even treated like slaves, therefore, Paul wanted this trusted believer to make a special effort to give these women help. These women were known by Paul to be genuine Christians and so he declares their names to be written in the Book of Life. This is God the Father’s Book where He writes in the name of every true believing soul in His only sacrifice for sin and that being our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul did not see this Book of Life, but he did see the regenerated, resurrected, and redeemed lives of these women who helped him get out the Word of God. 

“What a strong and faithful heart was Paul’s! Poor and despised though he was, he had both joys and crowns of which no hostile force could deprive him. He lived in the encompassing atmosphere of eternity, as we may. Surely these two Christian women could not have withstood this tender exhortation; and all his fellow-workers must have been heartened by the thought that their names were dear to Christ, and entered in the birthday book of the twice-born.” F. B. Meyer

“When the Apostle Paul went to a city preaching the Gospel of Grace, he only saw sinners like himself in desperate need of Jesus Christ and that included women. Paul like our Lord Jesus during His time was a liberator of women (even though he did not allow women to teach in the Church (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)). Paul was always and at all times instructing the women to teach one another as he declared to Brother Titus with these words, ‘Bid the older women similarly to be reverent {and} devout in their deportment as becomes those engaged in sacred service, not slanderers or slaves to drink. They are to give good counsel {and} be teachers of what is right {and} noble, So that they will wisely train the young women to be sane and sober of mind (temperate, disciplined) and to love their husbands and their children, To be self-controlled, chaste, homemakers, good-natured (kindhearted), adapting {and} subordinating themselves to their husbands, that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited).’” (Titus 2:3-5) (Amplified Bible). Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…