And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3)
Anciently, free cities had a roll book containing the names of all those having the right of citizenship (cf. on Isa. 4:3; Eze. 13:9). Here the apostle is referring to a heavenly register in which are written the names of those whose citizenship is in heaven (see on Ex. 32:32; Dan. 7:10; 12:1; Luke 10:20; Rev. 3:5). In this book will be found the names of Paul’s other fellow laborers who are not individually mentioned in the epistle.
Fellowlabourers.
Or, “companions in labor” (cf. ch. 2:25). The Philippians were good missionary workers, and provided Paul with many colleagues in his evangelistic work.
Clement.
Gr. Klēmēs, said to mean “mild.” There is no reasonable support for identifying this person with the famous Clement, bishop of Rome (c. A.D. 90-99). He appears rather to have been an active though humble member of the Philippian church. The Greek construction favors connecting him with “those women” who helped Paul, rather than making him a partner with the “yokefellow” in the work of peacemaking.
Laboured.
Gr. sunathleō (see on ch. 1:27). The word paints a graphic picture of the vigorous help given to Paul by these faithful women who were now disagreeing. Few things do so much harm to the Christian cause as bickerings among its members.
Help.
Literally, “take hold together with,” that is, assist. Paul desired him to help the women to be reconciled.
I intreat.
Gr. erōtaō, “to ask,”“to enquire of,” but often used in the NT with the meaning “to beseech” (cf. Matt. 15:23; Mark 7:26; Luke 7:3; etc.).
And.
Textual evidence attests (cf. p. 10) the reading “yea.”
True yokefellow.
Gr. gnēsios suzugos, literally, “genuine yoked-together [one].” Some commentators take this to be an anonymous reference to one of Paul’s helpers, and have attempted various identifications of this helper. Others see suzugos as a proper masculine name, which they transliterate Syzygus. They believe that Paul is making a play on the meaning of the name, and is saying, “Syzygus, rightly named [gnēsios] yokefellow.” This interpretation receives support from Scripture and classical literature, where play upon proper names is fairly common (cf. Onesiphorus, 2 Tim. 1:16; Onesimus, Philemon 10).