Philippians 4:3

Philippians 4:3

And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

1. “…help those women which labored with me in the gospel…”

a. labored [4866 * sunathleo] [Zodhiates: To contend with someone, to be on his side; only figuratively, to exert oneself with, to strive with or together, help, aid.

b. I am reminded of a verse in 1 Timothy that speaks of laboring.

1). 1 Timothy 5:17 “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.”

 c. Laboring in the gospel speaks of “preaching” the gospel.

d. ICR 9/5/11 Although the word "yokefellow" is out of use today, the meaning is easily understood. Most of us know a yoke is a device that connects two animals together to increase the power for the work that needs to be done. 

Jesus said "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). From a spiritual perspective, we labor together with the Lord Jesus. Among ourselves, we labor in the gospel. It is worth noting that God sees the marriage bond as "joined together" (same term) with a yoke (Matthew 19:6).

 Interestingly, as Paul speaks highly of the women who "labored" with him, he uses two very different concepts to recognize their contribution. First, he describes them as sunathleo, or those who are "engaged in the contest" with him, like "a man also |strives| for masteries" (2 Timothy 2:5). Then Paul uses sunergos to describe those who have accomplished meaningful work alongside him. Titus is described as Paul's "partner and fellowhelper" (2 Corinthians 8:23). These women had evidentially earned Paul's respect for their commitment to the kingdom work.

Although the picture drawn by these synonymns rests on the work aspect, surely there is the assumption that those who are yoked together are anticipating a common goal. Jesus, with "the joy that was set before him endured the |work of the| cross" (Hebrews 12:2). And we labor in the kingdom since our "names are in the book of life." HMM III

e. I personally believe he is referring to women who preached the gospel alongside him

2. “…and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book or life.”

a. fellowlabourers [4904 * sunergon; sun-togethere with; ergon-work;] [Zodhiates: Fellow laborer, helper.]

Psalm 17:15

Psalm 17:15

As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

1. “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness.”

a. Job 19:23-27 “Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were printed in a book!
That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

1). Job was speaking out revelation knowledge, rhema words that God was giving him and I believe he knew it. So much that he desired his words to be engraved in rock forever. There is a resurrection of the body!

2. “I shall be satisfied, when I awake with thy likeness.”

a. 1 John 3:2, 3 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”

b. Philippians 3:21 “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”

c. The resurrection of the body is a truth that flows all through the Bible.

Acts 13:7

Acts 13:7


Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

1. “Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus…”

a. What must be stated out front is that this individual was not a Jew, he was a Roman proconsul, a governor.

2. “…Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.”

a. As stated earlier, Barnabas and Saul ran into the sorcerer only because he was with the governor who requested Barnabas and Saul’s presence, he wanted to hear the word of God.

b. Tourville: “Bar-jesus was probably an advisor of some sort.

c. prudent [4908 * sunetos] [intelligent, discerning.]

d. desired [1934 * epizeteo; epi-intense; zeto-to seek] [earnestly desire.]

Acts 13:6

Acts 13:6

And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus:

a. NLT: Afterward they traveled from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

b. NIV: They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,

c. YLT: and having gone through the island unto Paphos, they found a certain magian, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name is Bar-Jesus;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: When they had passed through the entire island of Cyprus as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain Jewish wizard or sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.

e. Worrell Translation: And, having gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Jesus,

1. “And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos…”

a. And [Strong: 1161 * de deh a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:--also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

b. when they had gone through [Strong: 1330 * dierchomai dee-er'-khom-ahee from 1223 and 2064; to traverse (literally):--come, depart, go (about, abroad, everywhere, over, through, throughout), pass (by, over, through, throughout), pierce through, travel, walk through.]

c. the isle [Strong: 3520 * nesos nay'-sos probably from the base of 3491; an island:--island, isle.]

d. unto [Strong: 891 * achri akh'-ree or achris akh'-rece; akin to 206 (through the idea of a terminus); (of time) until or (of place) up to:--as far as, for, in(-to), till, (even, un-)to, until, while.]

e. Paphos [Strong: 3974 * Paphos paf'-os of uncertain derivation; Paphus, a place in Cyprus:--Paphos.]

1). The distance between Salamis to Paphos is a little over 50 miles. Apparently little happened on the trip through Cyprus.

2. “…they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus.”

a. they found [Strong: 2147 * heurisko hyoo-ris'-ko, a prolonged form of a primary heuro hyoo'-ro, which (together with another cognate form) heureo hyoo-reh'-o is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.]

b. a certain [Strong: 5100 * tis tis an enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object:--a (kind of), any (man, thing, thing at all), certain (thing), divers, he (every) man, one (X thing), ought, + partly, some (man, -body, - thing, -what), (+ that no-)thing, what(-soever), X wherewith, whom(-soever), whose(-soever).]

c. sorcerer [Strong: 3097 * magos mag'-os of foreign origin (7248); a Magian, i.e. Oriental scientist; by implication, a magician:--sorcerer, wise man.] [Unger’s Bible Dictionary:

In Matthew 2:1, “wise men”; in Acts 13:6, 8 “sorcerer”]

d. a falseprophet [Strong: 5578 * pseudoprophetes psyoo-dop-rof-ay'-tace from 5571 and 4396; a spurious prophet, i.e. pretended foreteller or religious impostor:--false prophet.] [Zodhiates: a false prophet, one who falsely assumes the work of a prophet when foretelling things…]

1). Horton: “Bar-jesus means son of Jesus, son of Joshua. The phrase means, ‘follower of’’, cp. 2 Kings 2:3”

2). Even though the incident starts out introducing this person, when the whole passage is read it appears that it actually began with a request of Sergius Paulus wanting to hear the word of God and because he happened to be with him we are introduced to the sorcerer.