The Pulpit Commentary — Philippians — Section 174

strange destiny by which the names of these women have been handed down from generation to geuemtion in God's Book, in connection with a difference which existed between them. It is well that our differences are soon forgotten, as even our names will be after we ~re gone. And yet the record is kept of our differences, as of our nnmes, in God's book of remembrance. It wonl,\ be a surprise to these women to be thus referred to by namo in tho apostle's letter, read before the assembled congregation. And so it will be a surprise to us to hear many things in connection with our names read out befuro the assembled universe. The apostle appeals to each separately, as being both to blame, though not necessarily cq ually to blame. Their own conscience would tell them bow much they were each to blame ; and so our conscience, appealed to at the last day, will tell us how much we are each to blame. It would be humbling to these women to have public notice taken of their difference; and so we ought to be humbled now on account of our differences, that we may not be bumbled by publicity hereafter, The difference between these women arose from their not being in the Lord in the matter concerned, i.e. not following Christ's leading, not cherishing Christ's spirit. And so it is when we are not true to Christ that differences arise between us. The way in which these women were to be of one mind was by returning to the leading and influence of Christ; and there is no other way in which a reconciliation can be satisfactorily effected. 2. .Assistance of the apostle's yokefellow at Philippi solicited. "I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they laboured with me in tho gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life." 'l'he true yokefellow not being named, we are to understand the one to whom it properly belonged to grant assistance in the work of reconciliation, viz. the minister of the Church at Philippi. Had Paul been present he would have undertaken the work; but, in his absence, it fell to him who was set over the Church and over these women in the Lord, and who was of like spirit with him, to undertake it. The ground on which the apostle was so anxious to have the reconciliation effected was that they were deserving women. And it was satisfactory that, when their n2.mcs were to go down to all ages in connection with a difference, there was also some- thing to be added which was to their credit. They bad laboured in the gospel, and in houourable company. 'l'bat is the testimony that is borne regarding them. The influence of women seems to have been a feature of the Macedonian Churches. At Thessalonica it is said, "Of the chief women not a few." At BerCEa, "Many of them believed: also of the Greek women of honourable rank not a few." And in connection with the start of the Philippian Church, it is said, "We spake to the women that were gathered together." "The extant Macedonian inscriptions," says Lightfoot, "seem to as~ign to the sex a higher social influence than is common among the civilized nations of antiquity. In not a few instances a metronymic takes the place of the usual patronymic ; and in other cases a prominence is given to women which can hardly be accidental. But whether I am right or not in the conjecture that the work of the gospel was in this respect aided by the social condition of Macedonia, the active zeal of the women in this country is a remarkable fact, without a parallel in the apostle'd history elsewhere, and only to be compared with their prominence at an early date in tbe personal ministry of our Lord." We can think of Euodia and Syntycbe as of the number of those who assembled at the riverside. It may have been in connection with their work that they differed. The Greek word translated "laboured" suggests that, while they strove w~th each other i"?- a way that W3:S not to their honour, they at the same time strove, as ID the games, m the sphere ol the gospel. Of the honourable company in which they thus nobly strove, the first was Paul. The next is Clement, whose identity with Clement of Rome is very doubtful. Of the others, the names are not given, but the honourable thing is said regarding them that they, as well as Clement, were Paul's fellow-workers, and that their names are in the book of life. Not known now to men, they nre known to God, written among the living in Jerusalem. Their names are in the register of the covenant people kept in the heavenly Jerusalem, and will yet be read out before the assembled universe as among those who have title to all covenant privileges. III. THE DUTY OF BEJOICIXG. "Rejoice in the Lord al way: again I will say, Rejoice." The apostle takes ~~ the pnrting nddress which was _broken off ~t _eh. iii. 1, strengthened here by the add1t1on ot "alway," and repeated with rn1phas1s m n form  li6 'l'HE EPISTLE TO THE PHILIPPIANB. [on. iv. 1-23.