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TEXT: Philippians 4:2-3
SUBJECT: Women of the New Testament #19: Euodia and Syntyche
After last week's interruption, we return to our series on the Women of the New Testament. Last time, we observed two ladies who worked as a team, and did much good: Lois and Eunice. Together, they offset the evil influence of their husbands and brought up a son to the glory of God. The Church is forever indebted to their cooperation in the training of Timothy.
But tonight's characters were less cooperative. And instead of doing much good, they combined for great evil. They are, of course, Euodia and Syntyche.
These women were Christians. If all we knew about them was found in v.2, we would have reason to doubt this. For surely "love for one another" is a hallmark of the faith. But Paul sets us straight. They were "women who labored with him in the Gospel...and "whose names are in the Book of Life". Euodia and Syntyche, therefore, are Christians.
But more than this, they were active and intrepid believers. They "labored with (Paul) in the Gospel". And this was no easy thing. It was in Philippi, after all, that Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown in jail. "Jesus is Lord" was a costly confession in that place. But Euodia and Syntyche did just that! And more: they openly promoted the Gospel in their hometown. These ladies, therefore, were outstanding Christians--women of firm character and true zeal.
But then something happened.
Euodia and Syntyche had a fight. Who started it or what it was about, we have no idea. But we do know its consequences:
1.It broke Euodia and Syntyche's communion with God. "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me". And what can be more iniquitous than a grudge? A bad attitude? A contempt or even hatred of another person? When husbands and wives quarrel, for example, "their prayers are hindered". When we refuse to forgive others their wrongs, "our Father in heaven will not forgive us".
2.It reduced their former Christian service. Paul said "they labored with me..." Christian service assumes a good conscience..."purge their consciences from dead works to serve the Living God" is how the Apostle put it elsewhere. But with this hatred lying on their hearts, they couldn't have had good consciences. They must have hardened their hearts fearfully against the Lord. And this, of course, make serving Christ impossible. They probably continued "going through the motions"--but without heart. They traded a throbbing piety for a "form of godliness".
3.It hurt each other. A rotten attitude is hard to hide. Euodia must have gossiped about her ex-friend; Syntyche must have screamed at her one-time sister. In short, everything Paul said to "put off", they "put on": bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil-speaking, and malice."
4.It robbed each other. Do you thing Euodia was "provoking Syntyche to love and good works?" Was Syntyche "exhorting Syntyche daily"? But these are debts we owe to each other. But in their case, they weren't paying. Thus they robbed each other.
5.It hurt the church. A reading of this Epistle will show that the Philippian assembly was torn apart by rivalries. Listen to some of Paul's counsel to the church: 1:27, 2:2-4, 2:14, and 3:16.
a.It would seem that Euodia and Syntyche were in the eye of the storm. Some people were rallying to the cause of one; others to the other. But the whole church, it would seem, was dissolving because they couldn't get along!
6.It grieved the Holy Spirit.
In light of these results, do you thing Euodia and Syntyche did the right thing, by standing firm in their positions? What if Euodia was "too sensitive"? Would it have hurt Syntyche to apologize for "something she didn't do"? Or, what if Syntyche didn't accept apologies too well? Would it have killed Euodia to humble herself a little more to make things right? Or, what if the two women had a doctrinal difference? Without compromising anything, couldn't one or the other just be a little quieter?
Some Christians would say, "NO!" No compromise is possible. I will not apologize for what I didn't do! I won't grovel for anybody! I can't defer in anything! Husbands are sometimes this way: "If I change my mind to please my wife, I'll surrender my manhood". Adult children of unsaved parents are especially obnoxious at this point. Won't visit their parents as long as they have a Christmas tree in the house! These are real examples of real people...with a real problem, it seems to me.
Be honest, would you rather: disrupt your fellowship with God...Retard your service in His Church..."Destroy one for whom Christ died"...Endanger the Church...And "grieve the Holy Spirit"...or...humble yourself?
Some, I am afraid, would make the wrong choice. It's no wonder then, that Solomon wrote, "Only by pride comes contention..."
Now, having seen the disastrous effects of Euodia and Syntyche's behavior, look next at Paul's advice to the dear ladies:
1.He does not offer the following options:
a."The problem is too great, the bitterness too deep, and so, one of you have got to go!" There were churches in the vicinity; Troas, Thessalonica and Beria were within about 50 miles, travel was easy and the language was common. It would have been easy to "solve" the problem by subtraction.
b."I know you hate each other's guts, but just tolerate one another".
c."Pray that the other will die".
2.His real advice is much more spiritual--and harder, too.
a."Get your minds off each other--and put them on Christ". "I beseech Euodia and I beseech Syntyche to be of one mind in the Lord". This will produce real results:
1.Each woman will recognize that the other is loved by Christ, and so must be loved by other Christians.
2.Each woman will see herself as received by Christ--as a sinner--and so become willing to accept other sinners.
3.Each woman will be confronted with the example of Christ, the Man who once "girded on a towel and washed His disciples' feet".
4.Each woman will see that the cause of Christ is much too important to be hindered by petty squabbles.
b.Paul, though is a realist. He knows that "taking the first step" is hard. And so he urges his friend, "the true yokefellow" to help the women in their path to reconciliation. And this is achieved by: godly counsel, fervent prayer, a good example, patience, and--if all else fails--corrective church discipline.
This, then, is the direct advice to Euodia and Syntyche. But, as I said earlier, they were not the only ones in Philippi who were at-odds with one another. It seems the whole church shared in their guilt. And what did Paul say to the rest?
Only this: 2:5-8.
But will this "slavish mentality" end up humiliating you? Read the rest of the passage and you'll see: 2:9-11.
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