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Saturday, September 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Read the Bible

King James Version

Philippians 4:3

And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Book;   Church;   Clement;   Women;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Book;   Church;   Helpfulness;   Labour;   Social Duties;   Woman's;   Women;   Work, Women's;   Work-Workers, Religious;   Workers, Religious;   The Topic Concordance - Help;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Ministers;   Missionaries, All Christians Should Be as;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Book;   Clement;   Syntyche and Euodias;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Book of life;   Judgment;   Philippians, letter to the;   Women;   Yoke;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Woman;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Book;   Clement;   Deaconess;   Syntyche;   Yoke-Fellow;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Book;   Elect;   Euodias;   Gospels;   Lydia;   Macedonia;   Philippi;   Revelation of John, the;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Book of Life;   Brothers;   Clement;   Euodia;   Philippians;   Yoke;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Book of Life;   Clement;   Joy;   Philippians, Epistle to;   Synzygus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Angels (2);   Arts;   Book of Life;   Clement;   Epaphroditus ;   Family;   Games;   Lamb;   Life and Death;   Parousia;   Philippi ;   Philippians Epistle to the;   Quotations;   Synzygus ;   Urbanus ;   Woman;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Book of Life, the;   Clement;   Evangelist,;   Woman;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Book;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Deaconess;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Clem'ent;   Rome,;   Syn'tyche;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Book of Life;   Clement;   Corinthians, First Epistle to the;   Intreat;   Literature, Sub-Apostolic;   Macedonia;   Papyrus;   Philippians, the Epistle to;   Synzygus;   Text and Manuscripts of the New Testament;   Woman;   Yoke-Fellow;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Book of life;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Book of Life;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for February 11;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 12;  

Parallel Translations

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Legacy Standard Bible
Indeed, I ask you also, genuine companion, help these women who have contended together alongside of me in the gospel, with also Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Simplified Cowboy Version
The one reading these words or hearing them spoken, I'm asking you to be a real cowboy and step up to help settle this disagreement between these great women. They have faithfully spread the good news with me. They rode just as hard and just as far as anyone while riding with Clement and the other cowboys. All of these will surely be listed in the book of life.
Bible in Basic English
And I make request to you, true helper in my work, to see to the needs of those women who took part with me in the good news, with Clement and the rest of my brother-workers whose names are in the book of life.
Darby Translation
yea, I ask thee also, true yokefellow, assist them, who have contended along with me in the glad tidings, with Clement also, and my other fellow-labourers, whose names [are] in [the] book of life.
Christian Standard Bible®
Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life.
World English Bible
Yes, I beg you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And I intreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women who laboured together with me in the gospel, with both Clement and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Weymouth's New Testament
Yes, and I beg you also, my faithful yoke-fellow, to help these women who have shared my toil in connection with the Good News, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are recorded in the Book of Life.
King James Version (1611)
And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, helpe those women which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow labourers, whose names are in the booke of life.
Literal Translation
And I also ask you, true yoke-fellow, help those who struggled along with me and with Clement in the gospel, and the rest, fellow-workers with me, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Yee and I beseke the my faithfull yock felowe, helpe the wemen, which haue laboured with me in the Gospell, with Clement & with my other helpers, whose names are in the boke of life.
Mace New Testament (1729)
yea, I intreat thee too, my faithful collegue, to assist them both, for they assisted me in the gospel, as well as Clement, and my other collegues, whose names are in the book of life.
THE MESSAGE
And, oh, yes, Syzygus, since you're right there to help them work things out, do your best with them. These women worked for the Message hand in hand with Clement and me, and with the other veterans—worked as hard as any of us. Remember, their names are also in the Book of Life.
Amplified Bible
Indeed, I ask you too, my true companion, to help these women [to keep on cooperating], for they have shared my struggle in the [cause of the] gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
American Standard Version
Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Revised Standard Version
And I ask you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Yee and I beseche the faythfull yockfelowe helpe the wemen which labored with me in the gospell and with Clement also and with other my labour felowes whose names are in the boke of lyfe.
Update Bible Version
Yes, I urge you also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Webster's Bible Translation
And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and [with] other my fellow-laborers, whose names [are] in the book of life.
Young's Literal Translation
and I ask also thee, genuine yoke-fellow, be assisting those women who in the good news did strive along with me, with Clement also, and the others, my fellow-workers, whose names [are] in the book of life.
New Century Version
And I ask you, my faithful friend, to help these women. They served with me in telling the Good News, together with Clement and others who worked with me, whose names are written in the book of life.
New English Translation
Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.
Berean Standard Bible
Yes, and I ask you, my true yokefellow, to help these women who have labored with me for the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Contemporary English Version
And, my true partner, I ask you to help them. These women have worked together with me and with Clement and with the others in spreading the good news. Their names are now written in the book of life.
Complete Jewish Bible
I also request you, loyal Syzygus, to help these women; for they have worked hard proclaiming the Good News with me, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow-workers whose names are in the Book of Life.
English Standard Version
Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Yea, and I beseech thee, faithfull yokefellow, helpe those women, which laboured with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowe labourers, whose names are in the booke of life.
George Lamsa Translation
I beseech you also, my true yokefellow, help those women who laboured with me in the gospel, together with Clement, and with the rest of my fellowlabourers, whose names are written in the book of life.
Hebrew Names Version
Yes, I beg you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the Good News, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
International Standard Version
Yes, I also ask you, my true partner,loyal Syzygus">[fn] to help these women. They have struggled with me in the gospel along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.Exodus 32:32; Psalm 69:28; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Romans 16:3; Philippians 1:27; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 20:12; 21:27;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
Also of thee I beseech, my true yokefellow, to be helpful to those who are labouring with me in the gospel, with Klimis, and with the rest of my helpers, whose names are written in the book of life.
Murdock Translation
I also beseech of thee, my true yokefellow, that thou assist those women who toiled with me in the gospel; together with Clement, and with the rest of my helpers, whose names are written in the book of life.
New King James Version
And [fn] 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.
New Living Translation
And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
New Life Bible
My true helper, I ask you to help these women who have worked with me so much in preaching the Good News to others. Clement helped also. There are others who worked with me. Their names are in the book of life.
English Revised Version
Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
New Revised Standard
Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Yea! I request thee also, true yokefellow, be thou helping together with these women, - who, indeed, in the joyful message, have maintained the combat with me, along with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names, are in the book of life.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I entreat thee also, my sincere companion, help those women who have laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement and the rest of my fellow labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
Lexham English Bible
Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Yea, and I beseche thee also faythfull yockefelowe, helpe those [women] which laboured with me in the Gospell, and with Clement also, and with other my labour felowes, whose names [are] in the booke of lyfe.
Easy-to-Read Version
For this I make a special request to my friend who has served with me so faithfully: Help these women. They worked hard with me in telling people the Good News, together with Clement and others who worked with me. Their names are written in the book of life.
New American Standard Bible
Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Good News Translation
And you too, my faithful partner, I want you to help these women; for they have worked hard with me to spread the gospel, together with Clement and all my other fellow workers, whose names are in God's book of the living.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Also Y preye and thee, german felow, helpe thou the ilke wymmen that traueliden with me in the gospel, with Clement and othere myn helperis, whos names ben in the book of lijf.

Contextual Overview

1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved. 2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

I: Philippians 4:2, Romans 12:1, Philemon 1:8, Philemon 1:9

true: Philippians 2:20-25, Colossians 1:7

help: Philippians 1:27, Acts 9:36-41, Acts 16:14-18, Romans 16:2-4, Romans 16:9, Romans 16:12, 1 Timothy 5:9, 1 Timothy 5:10

whose: Exodus 32:32, Psalms 69:28, Isaiah 4:3, Ezekiel 13:9, Daniel 12:1, Luke 10:20, Revelation 3:5, Revelation 13:8, Revelation 17:8, Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:15, Revelation 21:27

Reciprocal: Exodus 32:33 - my book Exodus 35:25 - General Numbers 3:40 - General Judges 15:14 - the cords 1 Chronicles 22:17 - all the princes Ezra 8:20 - all of them Nehemiah 3:12 - he and his daughters Psalms 87:6 - when Proverbs 22:1 - name Luke 5:7 - that they should John 10:3 - and he 1 Corinthians 16:16 - helpeth 2 Corinthians 8:23 - and fellowhelper Philippians 2:25 - companion Colossians 4:11 - fellowworkers 1 Timothy 5:17 - labour Philemon 1:1 - Philemon Philemon 1:24 - my fellowlabourers Hebrews 12:23 - which 3 John 1:8 - fellowhelpers Revelation 2:3 - hast laboured

Cross-References

Genesis 4:1
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord .
Genesis 4:11
And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Numbers 18:12
All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the Lord , them have I given thee.
1 Kings 17:7
And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
Nehemiah 13:6
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow,.... Not his wife, as some think d, for he had none, as appears from 1 Corinthians 7:7, at the writing of which epistle he was at Ephesus, where he stayed some little time, and then went to Jerusalem; where he was quickly apprehended, and sent a prisoner to Rome, and where he now was as such; and therefore it is not likely that he should marry a wife within this compass of time, and much less that he should have one at Philippi; besides, the word used is of the masculine gender, and designs a man and not a woman: some think it is the proper name of a man, who was called "Syzygus", and so the Arabic interpreter seems to understand it; and by the apostle, true "Syzygus", signifying that as was his name, so was he, really and in truth, a companion and fellow labourer, that drew in the same yoke with him; the Syriac version renders it, "the son of my yoke", and the Ethiopic version, "my brother and my companion": some think this person was the husband or brother of one of the above women; and therefore is entreated to use his interest, and compose the difference between them, or endeavour to reconcile them to the church; and others that it was the jailer, that was converted by the apostle: but it seems most likely to have been one that was under the same yoke of the Gospel, and who had been employed with him in preaching of it, a fellow labourer; such an one as Barnabas, Silas, and Timothy, and might be one of those; or rather Epaphroditus, who was minister in this church, and by whom the apostle sent this letter, and whom he might address and importune in this manner; the word may very well be thought to answer to the Hebrew word חבר, often used in Jewish writings, for an associate, a colleague, and a disciple of the wise men, to which the apostle may allude; see Philippians 2:25;

help those women; Euodias and Syntyche. The Syriac and Ethiopic versions read "them", referring to the above women; and the Arabic version reads, "help both"; that is, both those women; not by relieving their temporal wants, which it does not appear they were in; but either by composing their differences, or by assisting them with good counsel and advice; and giving them proper instructions in the doctrines of the Gospel, that they might be brought to think the same things the church did: and the rather such pains should be taken with them, since they were such, says the apostle,

which laboured with me in the Gospel; not in preaching it, for he suffered not a woman to teach in the church, 1 Timothy 2:12; but by professing it, and bearing reproach and persecution for it; and by supporting and encouraging, and spreading it with their worldly substance:

with Clement also; which some think is the same with Clemens Romanus, who was afterwards bishop of Rome, and whose epistle to the Corinthians is still extant; other writings are ascribed to him, but are spurious; however, by his name he seems to be a Roman; and from his being joined with the apostle, as one with whom these women also laboured in the Gospel, he appears to be a preacher of it at Philippi:

and [with] other my fellow labourers; in the work of the ministry, as Timothy, who was with him at Philippi, when he first preached the Gospel there, Acts 16:1, and some others:

whose names [are] in the book of life; the book of God's eternal purposes and decrees, divine predestination to eternal life; and this being called a "book", and the names of persons being said to be in it, denote the love of God to his elect, his care of them, his value for them, his remembrance of them, and the exact knowledge which he has of them; as well as imply, that his eternal election of them is personal and particular, is well known to him, and is sure and unchangeable; being more so than the writing of Pilate on the cross, who said, what I have written, I have written, John 19:22; and is called the "book of life", because those whose names are written in it, have a spiritual life here, and an eternal one hereafter; to both which they are afore written in this book, or pre-ordained in God's counsels, and certainly and infallibly enjoy it: now the apostle's knowledge of these persons being written in this book, did not arise from any special revelation, as being shown the book of life, and the names of the elect in it, when he was caught up into the third heaven, 2 Corinthians 12:2; nor was his knowledge of this matter peculiar and limited to these persons only, but common to all that he had reason to hope and believe had received the grace of God in truth, and walked worthy of the calling wherewith they were called, Ephesians 4:1; such persons in a judgment of charity, which hopes and believes all things, he concluded were in this book of life; and the same judgment, faith, and hope, ought all believers to form and entertain one of another, nothing appearing contrary to it, in their faith and conversation.

d Vid. Euseb. Eccl. Hist. l. 3. c. 30.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow - It is not known to whom the apostle refers here. No name is mentioned, and conjecture is useless. All that is known is, that it was someone whom Paul regarded as associated with himself in labor, and one who was so prominent at Philippi that it would be understood who was referred to, without more particularly mentioning him. The presumption, therefore. is, that it was one of the ministers, or “bishops” (see the notes at Philippians 1:1) of Philippi, who had been particularly associated with Paul when he was there. The Epistle was addressed to the “church with the bishops and deacons” Philippians 1:1; and the fact that this one had been particularly associated with Paul, would serve to designate him with sufficient particularity. Whether he was related to the women referred to, is wholly unknown. Doddridge supposes that he might be the husband of one of these women; but of that there is no evidence. The term “yoke-fellow” - συζυγος suzugos - some have understood as a proper name (Syzygus); but the proper import of the word is yoke-fellow, and there is no reason to believe that it is used here to denote a proper name. If it had been, it is probable that some other word than that used here and rendered “true” - γνήσιος gnēsios - would have been employed. The word “true” - γνήσιος gnēsios - means that he was sincere, faithful, worthy of confidence. Paul had had evidence of his sincerity and fidelity; and he was a proper person, therefore, to whom to entrust a delicate and important business.

Help those women - The common opinion is, tidal the women here referred to were Euodias and Syntyche, and that the office which the friend of Paul was asked to perform was, to secure a reconciliation between them. There is, however, no certain evidence of this The reference seems rather to be to influential females who had rendered important assistance to Paul when he was there. The kind of “help” which was to be imparted was probably by counsel, and friendly cooperation in the duties which they were called to perform, There is no evidence that it refers to pecuniary aid; and, had it referred to a reconciliation of those who were at variance, it is probable that some other word would have been used than that rendered here as “help” - συλλαμβάνου sullambanou.

Which laboured with me in the gospel - As Paul did not permit women to preach (see 1 Timothy 2:12; compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 10:5), he must have referred here to some other services which they had rendered. There were deaconesses in the primitive churches (see the Romans 16:1 note; 1 Timothy 5:9., note), to whom was probably entrusted particularly the care of the female members of a church. In the custom which prevailed in the oriental world, of excluding females from the public gaze, and of confining them to their houses, it would not be practicable for the apostles to have access to them. The duties of instructing and exhorting them were then probably entrusted chiefly to pious females; and in this way important aid would be rendered in the gospel. Paul could regard such as “laboring with him,” though they were not engaged in preaching.

With Clement also - That is, they were associated with Clement, and with the other fellow-laborers of Paul, in aiding him in the gospel. Clement as doubtless someone who was well known among them; and the apostle felt that, by associating them with him, as having been real helpers in the gospel, their claim to respectful attention would be better appreciated. Who Clement was, is unknown. Most of the ancients say it was Clement of Rome, one of the primitive fathers. But there is no evidence of this. The name Clement was common, and there is no improbability in supposing that there might have been a preacher of this name in the church at Philippi.

Whose names are in the book of life - see the notes at Isaiah 4:3. The phrase, “the book of life,” which occurs here, and in Revelation 3:5; Revelation 13:8; Revelation 20:12, Revelation 20:15; Revelation 21:27; Revelation 22:19, is a Jewish phrase, and refers originally to a record or catalogue of names, as the roll of an army. It then means to be among the living, as the name of an individual would be erased from a catalog when he was deceased. The word “life” here refers to eternal life; and the whole phrase refers to those who were enrolled among the true friends of God, or who would certainly be saved. The use of this phrase here implies the belief of Paul that these persons were true Christians. Names that are written in the book of life will not be blotted out. If the hand of God records them there who can obliterate them?

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Philippians 4:3. Help those women which laboured with me — Both in the Grecian and Asiatic countries women were kept much secluded, and is was not likely that even the apostles had much opportunity of conversing with them; it was therefore necessary that they should have some experienced Christian women with them, who could have access to families, and preach Jesus to the female part of them. The apostle tells us that certain women laboured with him in the Gospel, and were assistants to others also who had assisted him.

Some think the women here were Euodias and Syntyche; but I rather incline to the opinion that Syntyche was a male, and Euodias his wife. EUODIAS signifies a pleasant scent; SYNTYCHE, fortunate. There have been a number of conjectures who these persons were, and who is meant by the true yokefellow; but as there is nothing certain known on the subject, it is useless to propagate conjecture.

With Clement also — Supposed to be the same who was afterwards bishop of Rome, and who wrote an epistle to the Corinthians, which is still extant.

Whose names are in the book of life. — Who are genuine Christians; who are enlisted or enrolled in the armies of the Lord, and have received a title to eternal glory. The reader is requested to refer to the note on Exodus 32:32-33, and the concluding observations at the end of that chapter, "Exodus 32:35" where the writing in and blotting out of the book of life are particularly considered, and the difficulties on the subject removed. Luke 10:20.


 
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