📖 Biblical Definition
Euodia was a Christian sister at Philippi whom Paul names alongside Syntyche in his closing exhortation: "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. 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 4:2-3). Paul testifies that they had labored with him in the gospel — apparently in significant ministry — yet some disagreement had divided them. Paul does not take sides; he calls both to oneness in the Lord and exhorts a third party ("true yokefellow") to help reconcile them. Even fruitful gospel workers can be at odds; the church’s call is reconciliation.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
EUODIA — a Greek proper name (“good way”); preserved as a sister of Philippi exhorted by Paul to be reconciled with Syntyche.
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Webster 1828 does not list this name. Paul's decision to name two quarreling women in an inspired letter is a tender severity: he calls each by name, charges no specific fault, but exhorts them in print to come to one mind. The corporate witness of the Philippian church depended on these two sisters making peace.
📖 Key Scripture
Philippians 4:2 — "I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord."
Philippians 4:3 — "And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life."
Philippians 2:2 — "Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind."
Philippians 1:27 — "Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern church culture tells women to suppress conflict; Paul tells them to resolve it.
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Paul does not tell Euodia to be quiet, nor does he tell Syntyche to defer. He tells both, by name, to be of the same mind in the Lord. The unity is not the silence of one party but the agreement of both. The modern church often confuses suppression with peace; the Pauline pattern is honest naming and Christ-centered reconciliation.
The corruption is the avoidance of the sister-conflict by ignoring it. Paul published the disagreement to compel the resolution. The two women had labored in the gospel; their dispute threatened the Philippian witness; the apostle's pen named them so that the church could help them.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
From Greek Euodia (G2136), eu (well) + hodos (way); paired with homōphrōn (same mind).
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G2136 — Euodia — Euodia; a Christian woman of Philippi
G5426 — phroneō — to think, mind, set the mind
G976 — biblos — book; biblos zōēs — Book of Life
Usage
"I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord (Philippians 4:2)."
"Help these women who labored with me in the gospel."
"Their names are in the Book of Life."