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.
And. ['Aleph (') A B Delta G f g, Vulgate, read Nai: 'Yea'].
True yoke-fellow - in the same Gospel-yoke (Matthew 11:29-30: cf. 1 Timothy 5:17-18): Luke, who perhaps was at Philippi, as his name is not among the salutations; or Silas (Acts 15:40; Acts 16:19, at Philippi); or the chief of the bishops there. Not Synzygus, a proper name: 'Who art truly, as thy name means, a yoke-fellow.'
Help those women - rather х autais (G846)] 'help them;' namely, Euodias and Syntyche. 'Cooperate with them' (Birks); or as Alford, 'Help toward their reconciliation.'
Which laboured with me, х haitines (G3748)] - 'inasmuch as they laboured with me:' not without danger (Acts 16:19-20: cf. Philippians 1:28). At Philippi women were the first hearers of the Gospel, and Lydia the first convert. It is a coincidence which marks genuineness, that in this letter alone instructions are given to women who laboured with Paul in the Gospel. Euodias and Syntyche were doubtless two of 'the women who resorted to the river-side, where prayer was wont to be made' (Acts 16:13), and being early converted, would naturally take an active part in teaching other women called at a later period; of course, not in public preaching, but in a less prominent sphere (1 Timothy 2:11-12).
Clement - Bishop of Rome shortly after the death of Paul. His letter from the church of Rome to the church of Corinth is extant. It makes no mention of the supremacy of the see of Peter. He was the most eminent of the apostolical fathers. Alford thinks Clement was a Philippian, and not necessarily the Clement Bishop of Rome. But Origen ('Commentary' John 1:29) identifies the Clement here with the Bishop of Rome. A Christian of Philippi, a Roman colony, might easily become subsequently Bishop of Rome.
In the book of life - the register of those whose 'citizenship is in heaven' (Luke 10:20; Philippians 3:20). Anciently, free cities had a roll containing the names of all having the right of citizenship (Exodus 32:32; Psalms 69:28: cf. Ezekiel 13:9; Daniel 12:1; Revelation 20:12; Revelation 21:27).