Philippians 4:1-3 Disagreements

Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. [Philippians 4:1-3 NKJV]

Philippi was a colony of Rome, a predominantly Gentile city, with very few Jews. There were not enough men in the city to form a synagogue since it required a minimum 10 men who are heads of household. Since there was not a synagogue, the Jewish women would meet outside the city by the Gangites River for prayer.

Paul's pattern, when reaching a new city, was to preach first in the synagogue, and when the Jews rejected his message, he went to the Gentiles. On his second missionary journey, he came to Philippi. Since there was not a synagogue, he went to the women outside the city. Luke describes this;

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” So she persuaded us. [Acts 16:13-15 NKJV]

Euodia and Syntyche are not identified anywhere else in the Bible, but it is generally agreed that they were probably among the women to whom Paul preached by the river. All we know of them is what Paul includes in this passage; that they labored with Paul in the gospel.

Apparently they had some kind of falling out or disagreement, serious enough that Paul felt compelled to address it. His method of handling a disagreement between mature Christians was very succinct and to the point. To paraphrase, he said, "Handle it!"

He did not take sides, but asked them to work it out between themselves, and come to an agreement. He trusted in their maturity to be sufficient, without telling them how they were to work it out. He did, however, ask another believer to help them.

There will occasionally be differences and divisions in the church. How we handle them is a measure of our maturity it Christ. If we lack maturity, there will be schisms, churches will split, denominations will be formed, and some will even go to war.

If we are mature, we will find common ground. After all, if we are all believers, then we all have Jesus in common. Don't be afraid to ask for help from a trusted mediator. The mediator may be a pastor, but any willing, mature Christian who is mutually trusted will do.

Paul said, "be of the same mind." We are one body in Christ, and there should be no division. We may not have the power to undo the divisions in the church, but we can choose not to perpetuate division. If we are truly seeking God, and not our own interests, then we will be able to find agreement.

Lord, please help us to heal the divisions between us in the church. Give us the wisdom to find our common faith in You.