ristian friendship. But surely first, in this verse, he
leads not only the Philippians generally but Euodia and Syntyche in
particular up to a level where the self-will and self-assertion must,
of themselves, expire. "Stand firm in the Lord." In recollection and
faith surround yourselves with Jesus Christ. The more you do so the
more you will find that so to be in Him is to "be of one mind in Him."
In that PRESENCE self is put to shame indeed. Pique, and petty
jealousies, and miserable heart-burnings, and "just pride," die of
inanition there, and heart meets heart in love, because in Christ.

It is not guaranteed to us, I think, that we shall certainly be brought
here on earth to perfect intellectual agreement by a realized union
with Christ all round. Such agreement will certainly be promoted by
such a realization; we all know how powerfully, in almost all matters
outside number and figure, feeling can influence reasoning; and to have
feeling rightly adjusted, "in Him that is true," must be a great aid to
just reasoning, and so a great contribution to mental agreement.
Thomas Scott, in his _Force of Truth_, (a memorable record of
experience,) maintains that vastly more doctrinal concord would be
attained in Christendom if all true Christians unreservedly and with a
perfect will sought for "God's heart" (and mind) "in God's words."[2]
But it is a law of our present state, even in Christ, that "we know in
part"; and while this is so, certain discrepancies of inference would
seem to be necessary, where many minds work each with its partial
knowledge. It is otherwise with "_the spirit_ of our mind," the
attitude of will and affection in which we think. In the Lord Jesus
Christ _this_ is meant to be, and can be, rectified indeed, as "every
thought is brought into captivity" to Him. If so, to "stand firm in
Him" is the way of escape out of all such miseries of dissension
(whether between two friends, or two Churches, or two enterprises) as
are due not to reasoning but to feeling. "In Him" there is _really_ no
room for envy, and retaliation, and "the unhappy desire of becoming
great," and the eager combat for our own opinion _as such_. "Standing
firm in Him" the Euodias and Syntyches of all times and places _must
tend_ to be of one mind, one attitude of mind (_phronein_). So far as
they are, in a sinful sense, not so "minded," it is because they are
half out of Him.

But now St Paul comes to them, name by name.