The longer I pastor a church, the more I appreciate Paul's epistles to the early churches.  Over 1900 years ago, Paul wrote, "I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other" (Philippians 4:2). Here in the midst of his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul exhorts Euodia (yoo-OH-dih-uh) and Syntyche (SIN-tih-kee), to end their disagreement. I wonder what disagreement between these two women was so large that it caused Paul to address it in this public letter.  

Paul describes Euodia and Syntyche as "women who contended at my side in the cause of the gospel" (4:3). These women were church leaders, perhaps deacons. Paul obviously valued their leadership.  He also realized that contention between members of the church, especially church leaders, can spread and disrupt the entire congregation.   So what does he advise?  He addresses both women.  He doesn't get involved in who is right or who was wronged.  Instead he tells them to "agree with each other "in the Lord" (4:2).

They are to solve their disagreement in their own way, but in and through Christ. He urges others within the church leadership, their coworkers to help them mend their differences.  And he gives any of us who disagree within the church some  advice: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose" (Philippians 2:1-2). We are to follow Christ's example.  Jesus forgave those who wronged him, even those who condemned him to death on the cross.  Are the wrongs that we have experienced any more grievous? I know it is hard to forgive, but when we feel unable to love, we are to rely on Christ's love for us. Then his Spirit will empower us to show tenderness and compassion. When we see unity more important than whatever might separate us, it becomes easier to take the steps to reconciliation. 

So did  Euodia and Syntyche resolve their disagreement? There is some indirect historical evidence that, perhaps, they did. Early in the second century,  the church leader Polycarp writes to the church in Philippi.  Polycarp commends the congregation in Philippi, writing that they "have followed the example of true love and have helped on their way, as opportunity offered, those who were bound in chains."

Then he adds, "I rejoice also that your firmly rooted faith, renowned since early days, endures to the present and produces fruit for our Lord Jesus Christ." He could only have written this if the church in Philippi was a church united in Christ's love.  We can infer from this that Euodia and Syntyche did indeed mend their differences, or at the very least learn to work together in Christ.   In the future, we can wonder how someone writing about our church will describe us. 

 

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