A Delicate Pastoral Problem
A DELICATE PASTORAL PROBLEM
PHILIPPIANS 4:1-3
Nothing else is written about Euodia and Syntyche apart from what is written here. What might history’s one-sentence verdict be on our lives?
While conflict makes unity essential, unity is important for its own sake as evidence of a common attitude that binds the church together in Christ. This was very much on Paul’s mind. He had experienced disunity in the church at Rome (1:15-17). Now a flagrant instance of disaffection threatened the unity of the church at Philippi. With this in view Paul prayed for an increase of love and the approval of what is excellent, that the church may be found blameless at Christ’s coming (1:9f.). He expected Christians to “stand firm in one spirit … contending side by side” for the gospel (1:27). He urged a demonstration of “the same attitude” (2:2). This precise language recurs in 4:1-3, where the apostle makes a pointed personal appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. With the warmest affection Paul greets the church and urges them to “stand firm thus in the Lord” (4:1). He appeals to the two women to “agree in the Lord” (4:2).
Paul’s method in dealing with this delicate congregational problem is worthy of notice. Delaying until the last moment to name the two women, the apostle prepared for this appeal by a sensitive use of language in chapter 2. His appeal to avoid selfishness or conceit, but to regard others in genuine humility (2:3), finds supreme illustration in Christ Jesus who refused to grasp equality with God, but assumed the form of a slave, and in deep humility became obedient to death (2:6-8). The plea to extend one’s concern beyond one’s own interests to those of others (2:4) finds support in the example of Timothy, a man “genuinely anxious for your welfare” (2:20-23), and Epaphroditus, who risked his life to serve Paul on behalf of the Philippians (2:29f.). Paul’s point is clear: selfish vying for personal rights and honors is inconsistent with advancing the cause of Christ. Finally, Paul requests a close friend to reconcile the two women (4:3). At each point the reason for the appeal is the rightness of such conduct “in the Lord” (4:1f.). Paul could not ignore the breach of unity within the congregation, but his manner of confronting those involved exhibits Christian concern and tactfulness.