Philippians 4:3 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

True yoke-fellow,— My genuine associate. Doddridge. Heylin reads the clause, I beseech thee also, my faithful partner, to assist them both, for they assisted me, &c. Some have supposed that by the word συζυγε, St. Paul means his wife; but as the word in the original is masculine, waving all other arguments, it cannot be taken in that sense. It is probable that this was an officer of considerable dignity and authority in the church at Philippi, perhaps husband to one of the pious women here mentioned. As women's preaching was so expressly forbidden by St. Paul, we must conclude, that it was in some other way that these good women were helpful to him in the gospel; not so much by ministering to his person, though that, no doubt, they were ready to do as they had opportunity; but by such services as suited their sex and station, and bythe intelligence which they might give him of the state of religion among their female acquaintance, their children, and other branches of their families.