especially the last chapter, we see how Paul the independent (4:11 -13)

alternates with Paul the lowly (4:14 -16).  He is strong enough to endure and

to do all things through Christ, assuring the Philippians that he does not

'desire a gift': yet, immediately, he withdraws, lest he should wound their

feelings, and says, 'nevertheless ye have well done', and even goes so far as

to speak of their gifts in the same terms that God uses of the sacrifice of

Christ.  However, it is Paul, the independent, that has the last word, for he

says: 'But my God shall supply all your need' (Phil. 4:19).

Fellowship with a man of this calibre had to be real or it would be

repudiated.  See how scathingly he rejected the assistance of the Corinthian

church (2 Cor. 11:7 -10).  Paul could be melted by an act of pure Christian

charity, but he could scorch and wither the first approach of patronage.  We

may be certain that any who were honoured with his companionship were worthy

Suzugos: 'I entreat thee, also, true yokefellow' (Phil. 4:3).  It is

impossible to come to any conclusion regarding the identity of the believer

thus called 'Genuine yokefellow'.  Some have thought that Paul here speaks of

a sister in Christ, and the reference in the context to women who were

'fellowlabourers' with him in the gospel of Christ lends colour to the

suggestion.  Whoever it was, the title is a blessed one, and reminiscent of

the words of the Lord in Matthew 11.  In Philippians 4:3 the Authorized

Version uses the word 'labour with' and 'fellowlabourers', as though the

apostle used the same word twice, but this is not the case:

'And I entreat thee genuine yokefellow, help those women, who in the

gospel strove together with me (sunathleo), with Clement also, and with

other of my fellowworkers (sunergos), whose names are in the book of

life' (Phil. 4:3 author's translation).

Sunathleo occurs once more in Philippians 1:27:

'Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ:

that ... I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit,

with one mind striving together (sunathleo) for the faith of the

This does not necessarily mean 'preaching the gospel', it speaks of

'conversation' or 'manner of life' that 'becomes' the gospel; it speaks of

'affairs' and suggests that the women thus commended, had stood fast, and

taken their share in the witness, strengthening the hands of those who were

more actively engaged in public service, without which much of such service

would never have been accomplished.  The other word sunergos or 'fellow-

worker', is the more constantly used by Paul.  Priscilla and Aquila are

greeted with this title in Romans 16:3 and the intensely practical nature of

their fellowship is seen in verse 4, 'who have for my life laid down their

own necks'.  Urbane, also, is given this title (Rom. 16:9), and Timothy in

verse 21.  Twice the word is translated 'helper' and once literally

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 we read: 'We are labourers together with God',

where the English rather leads one to believe the meaning to be that he and

others were labouring together with God.  This, however, is not the meaning,

but rather, 'We are God's "workers together"; you are God's tillage; you are

God's building'.  Paul was the planter, Apollos was the waterer, and both

together were workers who belonged to the same God.  Titus also bore the