2 I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to nagree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion,2 help these women, who have labored3 side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, owhose names are in the book of life.

4 pRejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness4 be known to everyone. qThe Lord is at hand;

1) The first is the quality of joy. ‘Rejoice … I will say it again—rejoice!’ It is as if, having said ‘Rejoice!’, a picture of all that was to come flashed into his mind. He himself was lying in prison with almost certain death awaiting him; the Philippians were setting out on the Christian way, and dark days, dangers and persecutions inevitably lay ahead. So Paul says: ‘I know what I’m saying. I’ve thought of everything that can possibly happen. And still I say it—Rejoice!’ Christian joy is independent of all things on earth because it has its source in the continual presence of Christ. Two people who love each other are always happy when they are together, no matter where they are. Christians can never lose their joy because they can never lose Christ.

In the first place, such divisions are contrary to the apostle’s mind. His attitude towards other Christians is expressed in verse 1: my brethren, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown … my beloved. If this is the way Christians should view each other, then division is scandal indeed, for we must remember that apostolic attitudes are Christian ideals.1 Christians belong in a family unity: to Paul, they are my brethren.

2) Paul tells Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. There can be no unity unless it is in Christ. In ordinary human affairs, it repeatedly happens that the most diverse people are held together because they all give allegiance to a great leader. Their loyalty to each other depends entirely on their loyalty to that person. Take the leader away, and the whole group would disintegrate into isolated and often warring units. People can never really love each other until they love Christ. Human fellowship is impossible without the lordship of Christ.

(1) It is significant that, when there was a quarrel at Philippi, Paul mobilized the whole resources of the church to mend it. He thought no effort too great to maintain the peace of the church. A quarrelling church is no church at all, for it is one from which Christ has been shut out. No one can be at peace with God and at variance with others.

(2) It is a grim thought that all we know about Euodia and Syntyche is that they were two women who had quarrelled! It makes us think. Suppose our life was to be summed up in one sentence, what would that sentence be? Clement goes down in history as the peacemaker; Euodia and Syntyche go down as the breakers of the peace. Suppose we were to go down in history with one thing known about us, what would that one thing be?

6 rdo not be anxious about anything, sbut in everything by prayer and supplication twith thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And uthe peace of God, vwhich surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(1) Paul stresses that we can take everything to God in prayer. As it has been beautifully put, ‘There is nothing too great for God’s power; and nothing too small for his fatherly care.’ Children may take anything, great or small, to their parents, sure that whatever happens to them is of interest there, their small triumphs and disappointments, their passing cuts and bruises. In exactly the same way, we may take anything to God, sure of his interest and concern.

(2) We can bring our prayers, our petitions and our requests to God; we can pray for ourselves. We can pray for forgiveness for the past, for the things we need in the present, and for help and guidance for the future. We can take our own past and present and future into the presence of God. We can pray for others. We can commend to God’s care those near and far who are within our memories and our hearts.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned5 and wreceived and heard and seen xin me—practice these things, and ythe God of peace will be with you.