Philippians 4:3

“And I entreat thee also, true yoke fellow, etc.] Not his wife, as some think f28 , for he had none, as appears from (<460707>1 Corinthians 7:7,8), at the writing of which epistle he was at Ephesus, where he stayed some little time, and then went to Jerusalem; where he was quickly apprehended, and sent a prisoner to Rome, and where he now was as such; and therefore it is not likely that he should marry a wife within this compass of time, and much less that he should have one at Philippi; besides, the word used is of the masculine gender, and designs a man and not a woman: some think it is the proper name of a man, who was called “Syzygus”, and so the Arabic interpreter seems to understand it;…”

“And--Greek, "Yea." true yoke-fellow--yoked with me in the same Gospel yoke (Mat 11:29-30; compare Ti1 5:17-18). Either Timothy, Silas (Act 15:40; Act 16:19, at Philippi), or the chief bishop of Philippi. Or else the Greek, "Sunzugus," or "Synzygus," is a proper name: "Who art truly, as thy name means, a yoke-fellow." Certainly not Paul's wife, as Co1 9:5 implies he had none. help those women--rather, as Greek, "help them," namely, Euodia and Syntyche. "Co-operate with them" [BIRKS]; or as ALFORD, "Help in the work of their reconciliation." which laboured with me--"inasmuch as they labored with me." At Philippi, women were the first hearers of the Gospel, and Lydia the first convert. It is a…”

“And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow - It is not known to whom the apostle refers here. No name is mentioned, and conjecture is useless. All that is known is, that it was someone whom Paul regarded as associated with himself in labor, and one who was so prominent at Philippi that it would be understood who was referred to, without more particularly mentioning him. The presumption, therefore. is, that it was one of the ministers, or “bishops” (see the notes at Philippians 1:1) of Philippi, who had been particularly associated with Paul when he was there. The Epistle was addressed to the “church with the bishops and deacons” Philippians 1:1; and the fact that this one had been…”

“And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow - St. Paul had many fellowlabourers, but not many yokefellows. In this number was Barnabas first, and then Silas, whom he probably addresses here; for Silas had been his yokefellow at the very place, Act 16:19. Help those women who laboured together with me - Literally, who wrestled. The Greek word doth not imply preaching, or anything of that kind; but danger and toil endured for the sake of the gospel, which was also endured at the same time, probably at Philippi, by Clement and my other fellowlabourers - This is a different word from the former, and does properly imply fellowpreachers. Whose names, although not set down here, are in the book of…”

“4:3 my true partner or loyal Syzygus: The Greek word suzuge is either a proper name or a description; this person is unknown. • Nothing more is known of Clement. • Those whose names are written in the Book of Life are true believers, destined to receive eternal life (see Luke 10:20; Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12, 15; 21:27; cp. Exod 32:32; Ps 69:28; Dan 12:1).”

“I: Phi 4:2; Rom 12:1; Plm 1:8, Plm 1:9 true: Phi 2:20-25; Col 1:7 help: Phi 1:27; Act 9:36-41, Act 16:14-18; Rom 16:2-4, Rom 16:9, Rom 16:12; Ti1 5:9, Ti1 5:10 whose: Exo 32:32; Psa 69:28; Isa 4:3; Eze 13:9; Dan 12:1; Luk 10:20; Rev 3:5; Rev 13:8, Rev 17:8, Rev 20:12, Rev 20:15, Rev 21:27 Philippians 4:4”