Euodia is a Christian woman mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians. Her name appears in Philippians 4:2, where Paul addresses a conflict between her and another woman named Syntyche. The passage reads: "I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord" (Philippians 4:2). This brief mention provides insight into the early Christian community and the role of women within it.

Historical Context

Euodia was likely a member of the church in Philippi, a city in Macedonia that held significant importance in the early spread of Christianity. Philippi was the first European city where Paul established a church, as recorded in Acts 16. The church there was known for its generosity and support of Paul's ministry, as evidenced by his warm and affectionate tone throughout the letter to the Philippians.

Role in the Church

Although the Bible does not provide extensive details about Euodia's life or her specific role in the church, her mention alongside Syntyche suggests that she was a prominent figure within the Philippian congregation. The fact that Paul addresses her directly indicates that she held a position of influence or leadership. Women in the early church often played crucial roles in hosting and supporting house churches, engaging in evangelism, and providing for the needs of the community.

The Dispute with Syntyche

The nature of the disagreement between Euodia and Syntyche is not specified in the text. However, Paul's appeal for them to "agree in the Lord" implies that their conflict was significant enough to warrant apostolic intervention. This exhortation highlights the importance of unity and reconciliation within the body of Christ. Paul emphasizes that personal differences should not hinder the mission and testimony of the church.

Theological Implications

Euodia's mention in Philippians underscores several key theological themes. First, it illustrates the early church's commitment to resolving conflicts and maintaining harmony among believers. Paul's approach to addressing the issue reflects the biblical principle of seeking peace and unity, as seen in other New Testament writings (e.g., Romans 12:18, Ephesians 4:3).

Second, Euodia's involvement in the church demonstrates the active participation of women in the early Christian movement. Despite the cultural norms of the time, women like Euodia were integral to the life and growth of the church. This inclusion aligns with the broader biblical narrative of God using individuals from diverse backgrounds to accomplish His purposes.

Legacy

While Euodia's account is brief, her mention in the Scriptures serves as a reminder of the human dynamics present in the early church. Her example encourages believers to pursue reconciliation and unity, recognizing that such efforts are vital for the health and witness of the Christian community. Euodia's legacy is one of faithfulness and dedication to the Lord, despite the challenges that may arise within the fellowship of believers.Euodia

[See EUODIAS]

EUODIA

1. Women Prominent in Church at Philippi:

The Textus Receptus of the New Testament of Stephen reads Euodia, which means "fragrant," Philippians 4:2. King James Version has transformed Euodia into Euodias, which is a man's name. The mistake is rectified in the Revised Version (British and American): A Christian woman, one of the members of the church in Philippi. She and Syntyche, who is named in the same verse, were evidently persons of note, prominent in the work of the church there. At Philippi the gospel was first preached to women Acts 16:13, and the church was first formed among women-evidently in the house of Lydia Acts 16:15, 40. Paul here makes a request of Euodia and Syntyche. He requests-the word is never used of prayer from us to God-he asks, he beseeches. Euodia, and then he repeats the word, he beseeches Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord. Possibly, as Lightfoot suggests, they may have been deaconesses in the Philippian church, but whatever their position in this respect may have been, differences had arisen between them on some subject, we know not what.

2. The Difference Which Arose:

But whatever the subject in dispute was, it had become so serious that, instead of the breach being healed, matters had become chronic; and news regarding this lack of forbearance between Euodia and Syntyche had been carried to Paul in his captivity in Rome.

3. Paul Entreats Them:

The state of Christian life in the church at Philippi gave Paul almost unmingled satisfaction. He regarded with joy their faith and steadfastness and liberality. There was no false teaching, no division; among them. The only thing which could cause him any uneasiness was the want of harmony between Euodia and Syntyche. He beseeches them to give up their differences, and to live at peace in the Lord. Such is the motive which he puts before them with a view to bring about their reconciliation; to live in dispute and enmity is not worthy of those who are "in the Lord," who have been redeemed by the Lord, and whose whole life should be an endeavor to please Him.

4. The True Yokefellow:

Paul proceeds to ask a certain person, unnamed, but whom he terms "true yokefellow" to assist them, that is, to assist Euodia and Syntyche; for each of them, he says, "labored with me in the gospel." It is uncertain what is meant by "true yokefellow." He may refer to Epaphroditus, who carried the epistle from Rome to Philippi. Other names have been suggested-Luke, Silas, Timothy. It has been thought by some that Paul here refers to his own wife, or to Lydia. But such a suggestion is untenable, inasmuch as we know from his own words (1 Corinthians 7:8) that he was either unmarried or a widower. And the idea that the "true yokefellow" is Lydia, is equally wrong, because the word "true" is in the Greek masculine Another suggestion is that "yokefellow" is really a proper name-Syzygus. If so, then the apostle addresses Syzygus; or if this is not so, then he speaks to the unnamed "true yokefellow"; and what he says is that he asks him to help Euodia and Syntyche, inasmuch as their work in the gospel was no new thing. Far from this, when Paul brought the gospel to Philippi at the first, these two Christian women had been his loyal and earnest helpers in spreading the knowledge of Christ.

5. The Plea for Reconciliation:

How very sad then that any difference should exist between them; how sad that it should last so long! He asks Clement also, and all the other Christians at Philippi, his fellow-laborers, whose names, though not mentioned by the apostle, are nevertheless in the book of life, to assist Euodia and Syntyche; he asks them all to aid in this work of reconciliation. Doubtless he did not plead in vain.

See SYNTYCHE; YOKE-FELLOW.

John Rutherfurd

2136. Euodia -- perhaps "success," Euodia, a Christian at Philippi
... 2135, 2136. Euodia. 2137 . perhaps "success," Euodia, a Christian at Philippi.
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Euodia ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2136.htm - 6k

2175. euodia -- fragrance
... 2174, 2175. euodia. 2176 . ... see GREEK eu. see GREEK ozo. (euodia) -- 1 Occurrence.
(euodias) -- 2 Occurrences. 2174, 2175. euodia. 2176 . Strong's Numbers
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2175.htm - 6k

Purity and Peace in the Present Lord
... Euodia and Syntyche"Conditions to unanimity"Great uses of small occasions"Connexion
to the paragraphs"The fortress and the sentinel"A golden chain of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/moule/philippian studies/chapter xi purity and peace.htm

The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians
... Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, are exhorted to be "of the same mind." A true
yokefellow of the apostle, possibly Epaphroditus, and a certain Clement, possibly ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xvi the epistle of.htm

Paul at Philippi
... embalmed in the memory of the world for ever. Everybody will know Euodia
and Syntyche. Your city will be forgotten, although a battle ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/paul at philippi.htm

The Epistle to the Philippians
... which it sets forth is not that of Paul; and that the Epistle aims at reconciling
the opposing parties of the second century, typified by Euodia and Syntyche. ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the epistle to the philippians.htm

Philippians iii. 18-21
... [666]. Ver.2, 3. "I exhort Euodia, and exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in
the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women.". ...
/.../homily xiii philippians iii 18-21.htm

Quartus a Brother
... how much ashamed some of the other people in the New Testament would have been if
they had known that their passing faults"the quarrel of Euodia and Syntyche ...
/.../maclaren/romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/quartus a brother.htm

The Collection for St Paul: the Farewell
... thanks yet better for 'Philippians,' as we too enter, late or soon, into that world
where the Apostle, and Timotheus, and Epaphroditus, and Euodia, and Syntyche ...
/.../moule/philippian studies/chapter xii the collection for.htm

Paul Before his Conversion.
... conjux), since it is not likely that he would have omitted her when he mentioned,
in the preceding verse, two deaconesses otherwise unknown, Euodia and Syntyche ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 30 paul before his.htm

The Christian's Peace and the Christian's Consistency
... He came down from heaven, and was made Man, and suffered for us." Here was at once
model and motive for the Philippian saints; for Euodia, and Syntyche, and ...
/.../moule/philippian studies/chapter iv the christians peace.htm

Textual Condition of the Lxx. , and Problems Arising Out of It.
... 17 oneidisen (A, odinesen); 23 ephuteusen auten Iesous (HP 248 eph. en aute nesous);
26 euodia telos (248 euodoi ho angelos). [992] Grabe, ep. ...
/.../chapter v textual condition of.htm

Euodia (1 Occurrence)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia EUODIA. 1. Women Prominent in ... 15, 40. Paul
here makes a request of Euodia and Syntyche. He requests ...
/e/euodia.htm - 10k

Syntyche (1 Occurrence)
... sin'-ti-ke (Suntuche, literally, "fortunate" (Philippians 4:2)): A Christian woman
in the church at Philippi; She and Euodia, who had some quarrel or cause of ...
/s/syntyche.htm - 8k

Succeed (47 Occurrences)
... 10 Proverbs 3:4); "good success" occurs in Tobit 7:12, euodosei ta kallista; The
Wisdom of Solomon 13:19, epituchia; Ecclesiasticus 20:9, euodia, the Revised ...
/s/succeed.htm - 23k

Success (29 Occurrences)
... 10 Proverbs 3:4); "good success" occurs in Tobit 7:12, euodosei ta kallista; The
Wisdom of Solomon 13:19, epituchia; Ecclesiasticus 20:9, euodia, the Revised ...
/s/success.htm - 17k

Eu-o'dia (1 Occurrence)
Eu-o'dia. Euodia, Eu-o'dia. Euodias . ... Eu-o'dia (1 Occurrence). Philippians
4:2 I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same way in the Lord. ...
/e/eu-o'dia.htm - 6k

Smell (77 Occurrences)
... reach, as noun, "savor," "scent"; ruach, as verb, literally, "to breathe," "to inhale,"
thence "to smell"; osme, the "smell," "savor," euodia, "sweet smell ...
/s/smell.htm - 34k

Philippians (2 Occurrences)
...Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned in the epistle, two women who were fellow-laborers
with Paul in the gospel, for both of whom he has great respect, of both of ...
/p/philippians.htm - 42k

Eunuchs (33 Occurrences)

/e/eunuchs.htm - 17k

Yoke-fellow (1 Occurrence)
... The names of Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned immediately before, and that
of Clement follows immediately after the true yoke-fellow. ...
/y/yoke-fellow.htm - 9k

Yokefellow
... The names of Euodia and Syntyche are mentioned immediately before, and that
of Clement follows immediately after the true yoke-fellow. ...
/y/yokefellow.htm - 9k

Who were Euodia and Syntyche in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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