seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Philippians 4:1 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
21 Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.[a]
a. Philippians 4:23 Some manuscripts do not have Amen.
This is from the easy English site.
Euodia and Syntyche were two well-known Christian women in Philippi. Either on his first visit or later they had both worked hard with Paul to spread the gospel. For some reason they had quarrelled. It was a serious matter, as it would make the witness of the Christians there weak. Paul shows how much he cares for both of them by appealing to each woman by name. He wants them to agree ‘in the *Lord’, as Christians should.
We have translated the Greek word ‘syzygos’ by ‘companion’. It means someone who works with another person. It is similar to the word for a yoke. When animals worked together, people joined them with a yoke. ‘Syzygos’ might be a man’s name. But we do not know of any other examples. He must help the two women. Then his actions will prove that his name is suitable for him. But perhaps ‘Syzygos’ is not a man’s name. Then, we do not know whom Paul meant. But it was someone well-known in Philippi whom people respected. Writers have suggested Epaphroditus, Timothy or Luke. Luke had been a close companion of Paul on his first visit to Philippi (Acts 16:12-17). He may have stayed there until Paul’s return some years later (Acts 20:2-5). ‘Clement’ was a very common name and we know nothing about this person. The ‘other companions’ may have been too many to mention. But God knew who they were. Paul says that their names are in the book of life. The idea of a book like this comes several times in the Bible.
The result of prayer is that we will have God’s peace in our hearts. God’s peace will be like a soldier who is on guard duty in our hearts. The peace that God gives will protect our thoughts and desires. That is because God has united us to Christ Jesus. This peace is ‘far beyond anything that human beings can understand’. Human people can never produce this peace, however much they try. Good ideas will never free a Christian from worry in the way that God’s peace does. It is also far beyond anything that we can understand. God is able to do so much more than we could ever ask. He is able to do so very much more than we could even think’ (Ephesians 3:20). Christ ‘loves us more than anyone can ever really know’ (Ephesians 3:19).
I think this chapter is about unity in the "church". Not my church or your church or the Catholic Church or a Protestant Church or a Non-Denominational Church... but" church... the whole family". In every "church" there were problems. When more than one human is in the room... there is a potential for problems.... the more people... the more likelihood of problems jumping in for a round.
I've heard a lot of preachers use those two women as an example of fighting in the church. Back in the days before "me too" I heard more than one preacher say the reason woman couldn't run the church is the women couldn't get along at all. Those two women have been the source of our clobbering for centuries. We don't know what these two women were arguing about... apparently others got involved and it might have been settled. Maybe it was over sending more gold to Paul.... after all.... the churches were all sharing with other churches and Paul was apparently coordinating everything from his jail cell.
From the earlier chapters we know that there was a problem in this church concerning circumcision. So there were problems blending the old Temple trained descendants of Jacob [Israel] accepting Gentiles in the church. I would say.... it's the same as accepting Gays, Lesbians, or Transsexuals into the church today. There are a lot of people who want them to get in line, twist to conform with the rest..... or stay away. There are humans in the church today who would claim that Jesus didn't love "those people".
Circumcision was the cutting of the foreskin.... and I've heard a preacher or two equate it to the "fore life".... or the life before Salvation. Those preachers claimed that in order for a gay, lesbian, or transsexual to join the church... they first have to stop what they are doing. Of course the same church says nothing about having to stop watching porn, or stop raping the maid, or stop caressing that child, or stop drinking, or stop gossiping, or stop killing babies just because they were born female, before they would receive Salvation. All those practices were ok... but the gay, lesbian, and transsexuals.... they had to circumcise their lives first.
Was that the problem here? Were these two ladies arguing over the Salvation of an odd character?
Some preachers would tell you that women cannot run a church. I guess we're lucky.... back in the days of Jesus, women had to stay in the outer court... they weren't allowed in with the men. Women were in the class with slaves. Women were property. Now... we run churches... we run companies... we do it all... we can be a Supreme Court Judge while homeschooling our children, cooking, cleaning, and keeping all the laundry in it's proper place. We have it all... we're allowed to go into the main chapel... not the Jewish women at the Temple... only the Christian women at the church or meeting place..
I think this chapter is about accepting the people in the church while staying in the message of the Gospel.
Two women.... arguing.... and they made a chapter about it... figures.
