Day 16 of Journey Through Philippians: Unity in the Lord

COMMENTARY Throughout this letter, Paul often expresses his desire for the believers in the Philippian church to have unity with one another. In Philippians 1:27, Paul encourages his readers to “stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.” In Philippians 2:2, Paul asks them to be “like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.” These calls for unity, along with other instructions like “do everything without grumbling or arguing,” make it clear that there was some level of disunity in this church (Philippians 2:14). In today’s reading, we come across what may have been the specific issue that prompted these calls for unity. Using the same vocabulary he used in Philippians 2:2, Paul now begs two specific individuals to “be of the same mind.” He writes, “I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord” (Philippians 4:2). Unfortunately, we do not know much about these two individuals or their dispute. Based on their names, we know that they were both women and likely Greek, not Roman. It is also likely that they were both leaders in the local church. This is suggested by the fact that Paul refers to them as “co-workers” and is supported by archaeological and biblical evidence that shows that women often held prominent religious roles in Philippi (Philippians 4:3; Acts 16:13-15). As for their dispute, we can only speculate about what divided them. Most scholars assume that it was a personal matter rather than a theological matter because of Paul’s silence on the issue. No matter the reason, their fracture disrupted their work “in the cause of the gospel” (Philippians 4:3). Paul challenges them to “be of the same mind” and he adds the critically important qualifier “in the Lord.” This is very important. It is nearly impossible for people to always be of the same mind. Even the most sincere Christians won’t always agree on everything. Unfortunately, when Christians disagree, our grievances can distract us from the more important work of sharing the gospel. Even worse, our disputes can sometimes be so ugly that they deter others from embracing the gospel. It is, however, possible to have lasting unity when it is rooted in the Lord. As Christians, we must remember that we all have the same Lord and that we share the same mission from our Lord. In practice, this requires that we prioritize others above ourselves and above our arguments, just as our Lord prioritized us (Philippians 2:5-8). In the end, we may not agree on everything, but not everything is as important as Jesus, His people, and the mission He has given to us. PHILIPPIANS 4:1–3 CLOSING APPEAL FOR STEADFASTNESS AND UNITY 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. Day 16 Questions 1. Notice the repetition of the word “plead” in verse 2. Paul singles out each person, and pleads with each individually to “be of the same mind in the Lord” with the other. Why do you suppose he does this? Why is it sometimes so difficult for two disputing parties to see eye to eye? In verse 3, Paul asks another unknown individual in the church to “help these women” settle their differences. Why might it be beneficial for us to let outside mediators help us resolve conflicts? Do you need to invite someone in to help you navigate a conflict in your life? Are you willing to welcome outside wisdom?