A fellow-laborer joined under the same yoke of ministry. Paul's affectionate term in Philippians 4:3: 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. The Greek syzygos (yoked-together) draws on the agricultural image of two oxen sharing one yoke, pulling the same load in the same direction at the same pace. Some commentators take syzygos as a proper name (Syzygus) rather than a common noun; the consensus reading takes it as common noun. The image is rich: ministry yokemates are matched in pace, share the load, pull in the same direction, and cannot break apart without one or both falling. The Christian ministry is a yoked enterprise; the lone-wolf model is foreign to the apostolic pattern. The minister or missionary or pastor who tries to pull alone wears himself out faster than the work warrants; the yoked-fellowship of ministry sustains both partners through the long obedience.