Conflict Resolution

Posted by on February 24, 2008 under Sermons

Philippians 4

Parakaleo Formula

    Therefore + parakaleo (“I urge”) + addressed person(s) + infinitive verb = purpose of letter

Examples of Formula

  • Romans 12:1 – Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices
  • 1 Corinthians 4:16 – Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
  • Ephesians 4:1 – I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
  • 1 Peter 2:11- I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

Who Are They?

  • Euodia – Good Luck
  • Syntyche – Fortunate or Success
  • They were “fellow workers” with Paul and others.
  • They “contended at his side”
  • Influential in the congregation

The Loyal Yokefellow

  • Paul’s wife (Lydia?)
  • The husband or brother of either Euodia or Syntyche
  • Epaphroditus
  • Timothy
  • Silas
  • Luke
  • Christ
  • The bishop of Philippi
  • A proper name – Syzygos

Paul and Philippians

  • They were the only church to support Paul in his mission to Macedonia
  • Team talk – “synathlein” (v. 3)
  • Unity talk – Shared in support and shared in troubles (v. 14)

Unity

  • Is it a spirit and attitude?
  • Is it a plan or movement?
  • Story of the 1832 Union in Lexington, Kentucky