📖 Biblical Definition
Syntyche was a Christian sister at Philippi whom Paul names alongside Euodia 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... whose names are in the book of life" (Philippians 4:2-3). Like Euodia, Syntyche had labored with Paul 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. The pastoral note teaches that even fruitful gospel workers can be at odds, and that the church’s call is always to reconciliation under the Lord whose names they bear.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
SYNTYCHE — a Greek proper name preserved as the second of the two Philippian sisters Paul exhorted to like-mindedness.
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Webster 1828 does not list this name. Scripture pairs Euodia and Syntyche so completely that they cannot be discussed apart. Both labored in the gospel, both were named, both were exhorted, and the church at Philippi was charged through their “true companion” to assist them. Their reconciliation was the apostle's concern from prison.
📖 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 2:3 — "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."
Philippians 2:5 — "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
The mind of Christ is the only ground deep enough for sister-reconciliation.
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Paul does not adjudicate which woman is right. He calls both to the mind of Christ already laid out in chapter two: humility, lowliness, the looking out for others' interests. Reconciliation is not arbitration; it is shared submission to the kenotic pattern of the Son of God.
The corruption is the search for the verdict instead of the search for the mind of Christ. Paul refuses to render a verdict. He gives the standard — the mind of Christ — and trusts the true companion of the church to walk the two sisters back into one accord.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
From Greek Syntychē (G4941), syn (with) + tynchanō (to obtain, happen).
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G4941 — Syntychē — Syntyche; a Christian woman of Philippi
G846 — autos — same — to auto phronein, think the same thing
G2842 — koinōnia — fellowship — the Philippian foundation
Usage
"I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche (Philippians 4:2)."
"Be of the same mind in the Lord."
"The mind of Christ is the only ground deep enough for sister-peace."