Please Help Us Keep These Thousands of Blog Posts Growing and Free for All

$5.00

I urge Euodia, and I urge Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. (Philippians 4:2)

Euodia and Syntyche were influential, like many women in the Philippian church (Acts 16). There is no evidence that they held offices, although some believe they may have been deaconesses.^[1]

The word urge (παρακαλέω parakaleō) occurs twice,^[2] once with each name, avoiding favoritism. Apparently, both were at fault in whatever the matter was. The disunity they displayed was important enough for Paul to hear of it, but it may not have been a significant problem since Paul saved his exhortation for the end of the letter. It appears that it was not moral or theological.

The rendering same mind translates the Greek words (αὐτός autos) and (φρονέω phroneō) and carries the idea of having the same thoughts or to be in agreement. Paul does not teach the believers to be carbon copies of each other, but to work to live in the mind of Christ with each other. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul puts it this way – “Finally, brothers, rejoice, be made complete,[3] be comforted, be of the same mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” – 2 Corinthians 13:11.

More in-depth Insights

I urge Euodia, and I urge Syntyche. There is nothing more known of them than what is mentioned here. Some sources have suggested that these two women were deaconesses who preached the gospel to women, but there is no evidence of this. The Bible is very clear that women are not to teach or exercise authority over men. There is absolutely no justification or any feeling of a calling for a woman to hold the office of pastor/teacher or to exercise that authority. No one’s feelings of being called can conflict with the plain language of the Bible. If one is wrong, it will be the one who has the feeling of being called and all who participate in that sin. Women can be ministers or teachers in other capacities. They can evangelize and teach unbelievers, unbaptized boys and girls regardless of baptism, and women in church Bible studies. They can serve as missionaries. “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.” – 1 Timothy 2:12.

To be of the same mind. What Paul meant when using the Greek verb φρονέω phroneo to be minded), was to be united as to pure worship and the proclaiming of God’s Word. He was not referring to individual personal preferences or in minor issues that will be fixed the Christian matures spiritually (Rom. 14:2-6, 17) They are “to be of the same mind in the Lord” (Php 4:2), not to be squabbling, but to “to be of the same mind.” – 2Co 13:11.

In the Lord. Here Paul is referring to the Philippians Christian walk and plans. These were persons who claimed to be Christians, so the apostle Paul encouraged them to place the Lord at the forefront of their lives and any plans. They needed to set aside any petty differences and hostilities that they may have had.

[1] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments – Volume 3, Vol. 3 (Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, Inc, 2008). Page 436.

[2] This is a figure of speech called an anaphora, which is where one repeats the same word at the beginning of successive clauses, thus developing emphasis and calling attention to them. E. W. Bullinger, Figures of Speech used in the Bible (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House, 1968). Pages 199 and 205.

[3] That is, to restore or readjust one’s thinking, to make them adequate or fully qualified for something.