Charles Spurgeon Commentary Philippians 4:3

"Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life." — Philippians 4:3 (ASV)

And I entreat you also, true yokefellow, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with my other fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.

We do not know who this "true yokefellow" was. Very likely it was Epaphroditus, who carried this epistle to Philippi. Whoever it was, it was someone who had worked with Paul shoulder to shoulder.

If two oxen bear the same yoke and yet do not agree, they make it very uncomfortable for one another. If one tries to lie down and the other wants to stand up, or if one goes faster than the other, the yoke becomes doubly chafing.

Paul speaks of somebody here as having been his "true yokefellow"; and he says to him, Help those women who labored with me in the gospel. What an eminent place women have always held in the service of the Lord Jesus Christ! Here, Paul speaks of them as laboring with him in the gospel.

Surely, Lydia must have been one of these. With Clement also, and with my other fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life. According to some learned commentators, a man's name may be in the book of life for a time, but it may be removed. If their teaching is true, that book will be very much scratched and blotted. I thank God that I do not believe in any such book as that. If the Lord Jesus Christ has written my name in the book of life—in the great family register of the redeemed—I defy all the devils of hell ever to get it erased.

And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life (Philippians 4:3).

Brother, do all the good you can to help everybody else to do good. Help those whose names are in the book of life, even if they are not known anywhere else. Also help the Clement whose name is known; be sure to help him; indeed, help everybody.

There is an office, in the Church of Christ, which we do not sufficiently recognize, but which ought to be abundantly filled.

Paul mentions it in writing to the Corinthians. He says, And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28). It is the office of certain Christians to be helps. May we always have many such helps among us!

Did you ever notice that, almost every time that Bartholomew is mentioned in Scripture, we read, and Bartholomew? He is never spoken of alone; but it is written, Philip, and Bartholomew, or Bartholomew, and Matthew. It is good to have some Bartholomews who are always helping somebody else, so that, when there is any good work to be done, Bartholomew is always ready to share in it, for he will also have a part in the reward at the last.

And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

He tenderly thinks of all those who had helped the work of the Lord, and, in return, he would have all of them helped, and kindly remembered, and affectionately cherished. May we always have this tender feeling towards one another, especially towards those who work for the Lord with us! May we ever delight in cheering those who serve our Lord!

And I intreat you also, true yokefellow,

Their minister.

Help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.

They helped me, and they have helped you, so help them with encouraging words and in every other way that you can.