Bible Dictionaries
Laborer, Fellow Laborer

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

akin to ergazomai, "to work," and ergon, "work," denotes (a) "a field laborer, a husbandman," Matthew 9:37,38; 20:1,2,8; Luke 10:2 (twice); James 5:4; (b) "a workman, laborer," in a general sense, Matthew 10:10; Luke 10:7; Acts 19:25; 1 Timothy 5:18; it is used (c) of false apostles and evil teachers, 2 Corinthians 11:13; Philippians 3:2; (d) of a servant of Christ, 2 Timothy 2:15; (e) of evildoers, Luke 13:27 .

Note: In the AV of Philemon 1:1,24 , sunergos, "a fellow worker," is translated "fellow laborer," RV, "fellow worker;" in Philippians 4:3 , the plural, RV, "fellow workers;" in Philippians 2:25 , AV, "companion in labor," RV, "fellow worker;" in 1 Corinthians 3:9 , AV, "laborers together (with God)," RV, "God's fellowworkers," i.e., fellow workers belonging to and serving God; in 3 John 1:8 , AV, "fellow helpers" (to the truth), RV, "fellow workers (with the truth)," i.e., acting together with the truth as an operating power; in 1 Thessalonians 3:2 , some ancient authorities have the clause "fellow worker (with God)," RV, marg.; it is absent from the most authentic mss. See HELPER.