Yes, and I ask you, my true companion…
Summary: Who is Paul referring to? That is the mystery. In this meditation, we explore the possible meanings of Paul’s strange choice of words.
Paul does something very interesting in this passage, and it is worth taking a few minutes to consider what is going on here.
Paul’s letter is addressed to “all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi” (Phil 1:1). He then adds, “… together with the overseers and deacons.”
When he comes to the end of his letters, it is not unusual for Paul to add personal notes to individual people. Clearly, he seems to be doing the same thing here. What is different here, and slightly mysterious, is that we don’t know who he is talking to.
Who is the “true companion” that Paul is asking to help resolve the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche?
It turns out that there are several theories about this question. One of them has to do with the word Paul used for “true companion.”
The Greek word Paul used is “syzygos” (Strong’s G4805*). The word can mean “yoked together,” or, as the King James Version translates it, a “yokefellow.” According to Theyer’s Lexicon, “yokefellow” can mean “united by the bond of marriage, relationship, office, labor, study, business, or the like…”
This could point to someone Paul has a strong personal connection with, such as Epaphroditus, Luke, or even Lydia, his first recorded contact in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15).
One interesting possibility is that the word “syzygos” is actually a proper noun. Strong’s Lexicon includes this definition, “[‘syzygos’ is] probably rather as a proper name; Syzygus, a Christian:—yokefellow.” So this passage may be translated as: “Yes, and I ask you, Syzygus, help these women…”
Such are the challenges of trying to understand God’s Word!
One possibility we should also consider is that Paul was being intentionally vague.
He may not have known who the best person to help in this situation was. He could have been relying on his relationship with a number of people in Philippi. Imagine the effect his words might have had on the people there.
Who is Paul’s “true companion?” Who does he consider a “yokefellow?”
It is not hard to picture more than one person rising to the challenge — accepting Paul’s invitation to participate with him in the work of restoring unity to the church body.
Application: Take Paul’s challenge personally.
Food for Thought: If Paul had been able to go to Philippi personally, what might he have done to help defuse the situation between Euodia and Syntyche?
*”G4805 – syzygos – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (niv).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 14 Nov, 2025. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g4805/niv/mgnt/0-1/>.
If Paul had been able to go to personally, what might he have done to help defuse the situation between Euodia and Syntyche?
It is not uncommon for two people will take differing positions on a topic and bitterly dispute who is right, when in reality, they could both be right. Like asking two people, “What is stamped on the side of a coin?” One might say heads, the other might say tails. Both have a different answer, yet both are right.
This is when we call for a neutral arbitrator who may immediately see both are right, which is very possibly the case here.
Isiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
In genuine love for both people, call them together, remind them of their strong common passion for Christ and each other as sisters, assure them, you are with them to seek a common ground resolution to their situation. Remind them of their past unity and great love for one another. Ask each to express themselves, and bring them together, helping them to understand where they could both be right, simply looking at different sides of the same coin.
If one is totally wrong, then we would need to carefully explore their reasoning, how it applies to this situation, and help them work their way toward the truth.
Thank you, Ron!
It sounds like two “rights” don’t need to make a fight!
Wise words! Well said!