Fourteen times Paul “urges” (the Greek word is “parakaleo”) the readers of his various epistles. He urges, for example, a sacrificial life for Christ (Romans 12:1) and unity of the believers (1 Cor 1:10). Here in our passage Paul breaks from speaking to the church as a whole to address two women by name. And he exhorts them equally by the repetition of the word “urge.” Clearly, he was not taking sides in the dispute.

These two women must have been quite prominent and their disharmony must have been making quite the negative impact on the fellowship of an otherwise joyful assembly of believers at Philippi. The nature of the dispute is not revealed and it is probably just as well! It was certainly not a doctrinal issue, for Paul would have urged fidelity to the truth, rather than commitment to fellowship. Most likely the conflict had to do with personal issues, for which there needs to be harmony in the fellowship (see Phil 2:1-4).

Much has been written about the identity of the individual identified as “true companion.” Suggestions include Timothy or Epaphroditus (who were mentioned in chapter 2). Another suggestion sees in the underlying Greek word, an actual name, Syzygus, whose name means “true companion.” Regardless, the idea is that intervention was needed, someone to come alongside to help them work through their differences. Is not interpersonal conflict a frequent occurrence in the family of God, where two believers simply have a difficult time getting along? Likewise, it should also be normal for others to care enough for their brothers and sisters in Christ to become involved in being peacemakers or arbiters in such disputes.

Paul had a particular interest in these women, for they had apparently been part of a ministry team with Paul and Clement. Possibly they were among the first group of believers in Philippi along with Lydia, the Philippian jailer and others (see Acts 15:12-40). The fellowship among them may have been particularly deep because of the persecution Paul and Silas (and possibly others) endured in Philippi. Indeed, camaraderie borne out of shared adversity runs at a different level than that which knows of no hardship. These women had demonstrated the genuineness of their faith, so that Paul can safely say their “names are in the book of life.”