Philippians 4:2-3

Php_4:2 f. Unity and Helpfulness.— In particular the apostle has exhortations for three people. Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, seem to be not quite friendly towards each other; he exhorts them to come together, by realising that they are both in Christ. Possibly the Greek word rendered “ yoke-fellow” ( Php_4:3 ) is a proper name, Syzygus, although no such name has been found in Greek literature or inscriptions. If so. in addressing him as “ true Syzygus” Paul’ s meaning is that the person is rightly named, for he is a genuine yoke-fellow. There is an inscription in which a gladiator is described as the yoke-fellow of another gladiator who has killed him. If the word is not a proper name we do not know who is referred to. Various persons have been suggested, viz. Paul’ s wife (!), the husband of one of the two women previously mentioned, Epaphroditus, and the bishop of the church— if the latter, to be compared with Archippus at Colossæ ( Colossians 4:17; Philemon 1:2). The true yoke-fellow is to help the women. They had laboured with Paul at Philippi along with Clement (who is not to be identified with the author of a letter from Rome written c. A.D. 95 ; the name was not uncommon), and others whose names are in the book of life. The expression “ the book of life” occurs often in Rev. but nowhere else in NT except in this passage ( cf. Luke 10:20). It is based on the idea of a roll of citizens, and it means God’ s roll of those who have the gift of life. There is nothing to suggest a reference to departed saints.