Euodia and Syntyche
by Edwin Crozier
In one little paragraph, we find the rubber hitting the road for Paul’s letter to the Philippians:
"I entreat Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:2-3 ESV).
It’s probably a bit much to say this entire letter was written in order to get to this paragraph. However, everything Paul has said informs what he wants Euodia and Syntyche to do.
As we read of these two sisters and fellow workers, let us see ourselves. Are there any brothers or sisters with whom we have disagreements, disharmony, and strife? Paul would write this exact same letter to us and call us by name to “agree in the Lord.”
Be aware, when Paul in Philippians 4:2 asked these sisters to “agree in the Lord,” he used the same words as he did in Philippians 2:2 when he told the whole congregation to complete his joy by “being of the same mind.” The word translated “agree” is the same one as the “mind” we are to have among ourselves in Philippians 2:5. It’s also the same word used to talk about the “minds” the ambitious teachers have set on earthly things in Philippians 3:19 and explaining how the mature are to “think” in Philippians 3:5.
In other words, Paul was not simply telling Euodia and Syntyche to come to an agreement over some doctrinal disagreement or even preferential dispute. He wasn’t asking them to pull out scriptures and cross-reference verses to figure out the answer to some Biblical question. He was telling them to view each other the way Christ views them.
Euodia and Syntyche needed to have the mind of Christ. Each was to abandon any envy, rivalry, or selfish ambition she had toward the other. Each was to view the other as more significant than self. Each was to seek the interests of the other above her own interests. Each was to humble herself before the other. Each was to be willing to die to serve the other. Each was to count serving Christ in this relationship as greater than any other thing they thought to be gain to self.
Grudges and hurt feelings can arise for numerous reasons within a congregation. Paul takes this seriously. So seriously, he called these sisters out by name in a publicly read letter. Can you just imagine how these sisters felt as this letter was read to the congregation for the first time? Paul thought this was so important, he included it so it would be repeated every time this letter was read from then on, even after the women had reconciled, which I hope they did.
Paul takes our disharmony with others in the congregation seriously. Let us take seriously Paul’s instruction to be of the same harmonious mind in Christ with our brothers and sisters.
