Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Philippians 4:2

"I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord." — Philippians 4:2 (ASV)

The apostle turns from his general exhortation to an application of it. Two women, Euodia and Syntyche, are instructed to bring their attitudes into harmony. Paul does not indicate which one was in the wrong but knows that if the attitude of each would be formed “in the Lord,” the disharmony would vanish. Repetition of “I plead” may indicate the need for separate admonitions because the rift between them had become so great. Paul’s method of handling the problem suggests that it was not a doctrinal issue, but a clash of personalities.