Standing Firm In Difficult Times Series

The conflict probably had something to do with the church’s conduct of ministry rather than just a personal squabble.xx We are reminded of the conflict that broke out between Paul and Barnabas in Acts 15 over John Mark. It is not unusual for two equally sincere disciples to not see eye-to-eye on some issue. That does not mean one is good and the other is evil. It means they are both human. But they must find a way to walk in love toward one another. That sometimes means they agree to disagree. That sometimes means they create some distance between them like Paul and Barnabas did. It was sad that Paul and Barnabas got cross ways with one another. But it was good that they did not allow the disagreement to consume their time and energy. They found a way to continue serving the Lord without an ongoing squabble.

These two women were dedicated ministers of Christ. They had labored side-by-side with the Apostle Paul. They had worked hard for the furtherance of the gospel. The word translated “labored” in verse 3 indicates strenuous toil. xxi They had both worked cooperatively with Paul in the past. They were not contentious people, but probably had strong convictions about the issue.xxii

Paul names Clement who also worked with them along with others that are not named.xxiii Paul did not feel the need to name everyone that worked with them since God knows who they are and will reward them appropriately. Their names are in the Book of Life.

We do not know anything about these two women except the meaning of their names. Euodia means “success” or “prosperous journey.” Syntyche means “Lucky. She is “named after the goddess of fortune.” That probably indicates she was a converted gentile.xxiv We know from Acts 16:13 that there were women meeting with Lydia who came to the Lord at the beginning of this church. These women may have been a part of that group, but we do not know that for sure.

Paul’s instruction to them was “to be of the same mind in the Lord.” What does that mean? The NIV translates it “to agree with each other in the Lord.” The NLT says, “because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement.” Obviously, Paul is telling them to settle the dispute, and he is emphasizing their common relationship with the Lord as a basis for that resolution. No matter what the issue is, it is not appropriate for them to “contend” with one another.xxv Doing that usually pulls others into the dispute and broadens the conflict. In fact, the public way Paul is dealing with this probably indicates that has already happened.

We get a clue about how this is to be resolved by the way Paul previously used the exact same phrase earlier in this letter. In 4:2 the Greek phrase “to auto phronete” is translated “to be of the same mind.” In 2:2 the exact phrase is translated “being like-minded.” The elaboration Paul provides in chapter 2 helps us understand what Paul is telling these ladies to do. In Philippians 2:1-5 he wrote, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded [to auto phronete; what follows helps us understand Paul’s thinking] , having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. . . .”