Philippians and Philemon - MR Vincent - 1906.pdf

IV. 2, 3] EUODIA, SYNTYCHE, AND SYNZYGUS I3I
of the patriarchs Asher and Gad; their sex having been changed in the
transition from one language to the other; and that they represent the
Greek and the Roman elements in the church.
'
: I exhort.' See on (ii. i). The repetition
of the word emphasises the separate exhortation to each.
' TO : to be of the same mind.' (See on ii. 2.)
cv : With . . . In that accord of which the Lord
is the bond : each individually in Christ, and each therefore at
one with the other.
3. vat :
* yea.' The reading has almost no support. (Comp.
Mt. XV. 27 ; Rom. iii. 29 ; Philem. 20.) The preceding exhortation
is enforced by introducing a third party. * I have urged Euodia
and Syntyche to live in harmony; yes, and I entreat you also,'
etc.€ *
: I beseech * thee also.' originally to
question,' as Lk. xxii. 68 ; Jn. ix. 21. Only in that sense in class.
The meaning ' to entreat ' belongs to later Greek. Thus rendered,
it usually signifies to ask a person ; not to ask a thing of a person ;
and to ask a person to do ; rarely to give. See Trench, Syn. xl. •,
but his distinction between and aiVctv does not hold. (See
Ezra Abbot, T/ie Authorship of the Fourth Gospel and Other
Critical Essays. )
].^:
A.V. ' yoke-fellow,' gives the correct sense of the proper name,
and ]. marks the person addressed as one to whom the name
is justly applied. (See on -, ii. 20. Comp. €€,
2 Cor. vi. 14.) It is true that this proper name has no confirmation
from inscriptions ; but such descriptive or punning names are
very common, as Onesimus, Chrestus, Chresimus, Onesiphorus,
Symphorus, etc.
* Synzygus, who art rightly so named.' The
The attempts to identify the person referred to are numerous, and the
best are only guesses. Clem. Alex., Paul's own wife; Chr., the husband or
brother of Euodia or Syntyche; Lightf., Epaphroditus. But it is improbable
that Paul would have written thus in a letter of which Epaph. was the
bearer. Others, Timothy or Silas; EUic. and De W., the chief bishop at
Philippi. Wiesel., Christ; val introducing a prayer.
?: 'help those (women).' Lit. 'take hold
with.' Assist them in reconciling their differences. (Comp.
Lk. v. 7.)
Lips., following Chr. and Theoph., explains the verb in a general sense :
' interest yourself in them.' Grot, refers it to their support as widows.
amve? : 'inasmuch as they.' See on (iii. 7). Not as
A.V. ' who.' The double relative classifies them among Paul's
helpers, and gives a reason why Synzygus should promote their
reconciliation.