"I entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life." (Philippians 4:2-3)

"Greet every saint in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:21)

June 7, 2026

Dear friends,

Paul's epistle to the Philippians is an encouraging and joyful letter. Though imprisoned in Rome, he finds reason to be optimistic about God's work in Christ and in the advance of the gospel in the world.

There's a curious personal admonition toward the end of the letter to two women of prominence in ministry, Euodia and Syntyche. (If you've been involved in Bible study circles, you may have heard of them referred by the nicknames, "Odious" and "Soon-touchy".) They were remarkable and hard-working servants of the Lord, but likely had some rough edges in their personalities, the kinds of character issues Paul wrote about in chapter 2, verses 1 through 9. Anyway, he admonishes them to iron out their differences, and to be more agreeable. But he does not dismiss them as unimportant or useless. "Help them," he says, for like the other workers, their "names are in the book of life."

People, and specifically individuals, were important to Paul. Even difficult people need to be encouraged. This may explain why Paul, toward the end of the epistle writes, "Greet every saint in Christ Jesus." The "every" emphasizes that individuals are important.

When he closes his epistle to the Romans, written later, he sends personal greetings to over twenty-five individuals. For example, "Prisca and Aquila, beloved Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus and Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, beloved Stachys...", and so on. (Romans 16:3-9). Through the brief descriptions Paul gives, we realize there is a story behind each name. Paul is not a politician working the crowd, nor is he a social media influencer looking for "likes". Though he himself has not been to Rome, these are people he knows, loves, and prays for. There's history there, and he celebrates the worth of each individual.

We think so much today in terms of movements, of group identity, of demographics, of partisan labels, of ethnicity and race. Even in ministry, we seek to identify the specific needs of groups, such as married couples, teens, college students, internationals, homeschool families, and so on. And there is some validity to that. But we mustn't overlook the uniqueness and worth of each individual before God. People are made in the image of God -- they are not merely a member of a social unit or a self-generated identity. People have a uniqueness and value that comes from God their Creator. That transcends demographics.

Further, when people are called to Christ, they are reborn, and their names are in the Lamb's book of life. They have a unique worth and value before the Lord their Redeemer. Though we as Christians have a corporate identity before God as the Church, we also have an individual identity, each one of us, as his child, his son, his daughter, called and gifted for his purpose and glory. We will never be assimilated into some kind of "holy Borg" in eternity. It is our individual names that have been written in the book of life. Think about the "white stone" promise in Revelation: "To the one who conquers... I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it." (Revelation 2:17) This is the unique worth of the individual!

As to value, Jesus told his disciples, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31) And, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?" (Luke 15:4) "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day." (John 6:39) This is how Jesus values his followers.

Think also of the biblical stories of the Lord's dealing with individuals: of Jesus calling Zacchaeus down from the tree. The woman at the well. Calling blind Bartimaeus. Visiting with Nicodemus at night. Speaking with Mary Magdalene outside the empty tomb: "Mary!" he said. To Thomas: "Do not disbelieve, but believe." To Peter he said, "Do you love me?" To Saul: "Why are you persecuting me?" And to each of us, hasn't the Lord dealt with us in marvelous, individual ways?

It's been said that, although there's only one road to God (Jesus), there are many roads to Jesus. Each of us has a unique story of coming to the Lord Jesus. And that story, at least in my case, involves a unique mix of individuals. When I look at how God has dealt with me, the greatest influences have been through individuals: mentors, my wife, faithful friends, family members, teachers, specific writers. Movements and groups influenced me, to be sure, but the greatest influence came from individuals, and I remember their names.

Retirement has afforded me the luxury of time now to appreciate those individuals, and when possible, to linger a bit longer to visit with them. In prayer I give thanks for their contribution to God's kingdom and how my life has been enriched by them. When I was in the pastorate (I say this to my shame) I was often more busy thinking about the group dynamics of the church and its activities, the meetings, the deadlines, the problems, and the larger needs -- which is not the same as the greater needs -- that it was too easy to overlook the precious individuals standing nearby. Now I have more time to step aside, to visit, to listen, to appreciate, to remember stories, to share mutual encouragement, and to thank God for each individual he's graciously placed in my life.

Thanks be to God for the worth of the individual!

That's it for this week!

Sandy

Afterwords is an occasional newsletter on topics of interest to me (Sandy Young) since my retirement from full-time pastoral ministry. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.