What Euodia Teaches Us about How to Handle Conflict with Believers

Have you ever wondered how your name will be remembered when you’re gone? Most seasoned adults have considered this question—especially Christians. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul exhorted two women by name. Since then, Euodia and Syntyche’s relationship has become a reminder to the Church about the importance of unity.

Who Was Euodia in the Bible?

In his letter to the Philippian Believers Paul “speaks mostly in general terms to the entire group. The theme of the book revolves around joy. Paul wanted the church to rejoice in the Lord. As he instructed two co-laborers in Christ to settle their dispute, he knew that continuing in the argument will take away from their joy and affect the entire church body,” explains Melissa Spoelstra.

Euodia was one of the women Paul felt the need to exhort in his letter. But as with any conflict, it takes two—and Syntyche was her partner in crime. In the latter part of his written instruction, Paul pleads with these women to lay their differences aside and to unify their thoughts in the Lord. Paul also commissions the entire church to help resolve their dispute.

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life” (Philippians 4:2-3).

Although Scripture only provides two verses that specifically refer to Euodia, we can gather certain facts from context. We know that Euodia and Syntyche were true Christians who played an active role in spreading the Gospel to Philippi. But they allowed their disagreement to escalate to the point of impacting the whole congregation. The fact that Paul—who had suffered various beatings, trials, and imprisonment—would be made aware of their argument shows the volatility of the matter and its potential impact on the Church at large.

What Do We Know about the Church in Philippi?

The Apostle Paul enjoyed a close bond with the believers at Philippi. His God-given mission was to preach the Gospel first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles. Part of that mission involved taking the Good News of Jesus Christ to new Gentile cities. As Paul’s second missionary journey began, the Holy Spirit guided his travels away from Asia and Bithynia and directed him to the Roman colony of Philippi in Macedonia.

Philippi was an important hub of commerce during that time and was considered a leading city in the district. The women of the Philippi were heavily involved in the city’s business and trade and therefore enjoyed a higher status than most women in that area. According to scripture, the first personal interactions Paul had in Philippi were with the women (Acts 16).

The first Sabbath day after Paul, Silas, and Timothy arrived in Philippi they traveled outside the city gate to find a place of prayer. They found a group of women gathered near the river and decided to stop to talk to them about Jesus. Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, who was a worshiper of God and a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira. The Lord opened Lydia’s heart to respond to Paul’s message. After she and her household were baptized, she urged and persuaded Paul, Silas, and Timothy to spend the remainder of their visit in Philippi at her house (Acts 16:14-15).

During that first visit to Philippi, Paul and Silas were arrested for casting a “spirit of divination” out of a local slave girl. The girl’s owners were so furious that their money-making opportunities had vanished with the demon, that they seized Paul and Silas, stripped them, beat them with rods, and threw them into prison. As Paul and Silas were praying and worshiping God in their cell a violent earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. At once the doors flew open and all the prisoners’ chains were released.

When the jailer discovered what had happened, he drew his sword to kill himself. But Paul called out to him, “Do not harm yourself! We are all here!” Upon hearing this, the jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:29).

The jailer and his whole household were saved that evening and rejoiced with Paul and Silas. The next day the men were released from prison. They returned to Lydia’s house to say goodbye and to encourage the newly formed Church before leaving Philippi.

Paul continued to train and encourage the Philippian believers through occasional visits (Acts 20:1-2, Acts 20:6) and through the letters he wrote. In return, they loved Paul, faithfully gave him gifts—even though many of them were poor (Philippians 4:14-16), and even sent Epaphroditus to minister to their beloved teacher while he was imprisoned in Rome.

It’s possible that Euodia and Syntyche were part of the original little flock of believers that Paul had personally led to Christ. According to Scripture, these women had labored directly with the Apostle to help spread the Good News to their city (Philippians 4:3).

Why Does Paul Tell Euodia to Stop Fighting with Syntyche?

Paul’s main purpose for writing his letter to the Philippians was to encourage the Church in their faith and express his appreciation for their support. The believers at Philippi had offered Paul more material support for his ministry than any other Church, and he wanted to make his thankfulness and affection for them clear through the letter.

Because of his great love for them, Paul wants the members to remain steadfast in their faith and unified in the Body of Christ. He knows that to accomplish this the Believers must strive to be of “one mind.”

Paul tells Euodia and Syntyche to stop arguing because their disagreement was causing a rift, not just in their own relationship, but in the whole fabric of the Church (1 Corinthians 12:25-26). When he instructs them to be of “one mind,” the Apostle is not suggesting that the women should settle the matter by determining who was right and wrong in the debate. But that each of them should lay down their right to be right—and take up the cross of Christ.

 “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8).

Much of Paul’s letter is devoted to teaching the essentials of humility and showing the Church the importance of unity within the Body of Christ. (Philippians 1:27–2:18; 4:1-9) His exhortation to Euodia and Syntyche proved to be an extension of that important training.

What Does This Teach Us about Conflict with Other Believers?

When Paul wrote his letters to the burgeoning churches, God knew that the Holy Spirit-led instruction would be used as guidance for all believers in Christ to come. Paul’s plea for unity is echoed in Jesus’s own prayer to the Father, on our behalf.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:22-23).

When believers experience conflict with each other, it is God’s will that we quickly and humbly reconcile our differences—for the sake of the image of Christ and the message of the Gospel.

Can you imagine the extent of damage that could’ve occurred to the blossoming Church had Euodia and Syntyche had access to today’s social media platforms to vent each of their sides of the argument? I can. The same kind of debates happens today, in a million different ways, over social media.

Paul’s admonishment to these two women at Philippi rings truer today than ever before. When Christians choose to take up the cause to be right—instead of taking up the cross—the image the world sees of Jesus, through us, becomes marred. And the Church suffers degradation.

The name most believers hope to leave behind when we’re gone is Jesus’s name. The name above all names. Back to the Bible sums up this truth beautifully. “Friends, as believers in Christ, we should be able to agree about the essentials of doctrine and the core message of Christianity. We should be able to unite in the Lord. Are you in the midst of a disagreement with a brother or sister in Christ? If so, I urge you to approach them and make it right today. Seek reconciliation. Not for the sake of your own name but for the glory of His.”

Photo credit: © Getty Images/fizkes

Annette Marie Griffin is an award-winning author and speaker who has managed and directed children’s and youth programs for more than 20 years. Her debut children’s book, What Is A Family? released through Familius Publishing in 2020. Annette has also written curriculum for character growth and development of elementary-age children and has developed parent training seminars to benefit the community. Her passion is to help wanderers find home. She and her husband have five children—three who have already flown the coop and two adopted teens still roosting at home—plus two adorable grands who add immeasurable joy and laughter to the whole flock.

This article is part of our People from the Bible Series featuring the most well-known historical names and figures from Scripture. We have compiled these articles to help you study those whom God chose to set before us as examples in His Word. May their lives and walks with God strengthen your faith and encourage your soul.

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