Category Archives: Fellow worker

Two architects reviewing floor plans beside architectural models
Bible, Disciples, Fellow worker, Romans, Scripture, Toil, Works

THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN

ROMANS 16:12

“Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.”

I have been in ministry since 1979. That’s a long time. I served my first church as an 18 year old college student. My role was a part-time Youth and Music Director. I could not have done that job without the support of some very precious women at Bishop Baptist Church. They supported my work with the youth by hosting parties and bible studies. My music ministry was not possible without those who accompanied me on the piano and in choir rehearsals. I dare say most ministers today could not do their ministry very effectively without women in the church.

Paul must have felt the same. In today’s verse, Paul sends greetings to three women. All we know about them is what we read here in this verse. We know they were all workers for the Lord. It’s important to point out one small difference in them. Tryphaena and Tryphosa are still working, since the verb tense here is in the Present tense. Persis, on the other hand, “has worked” which is in the Aorist tense. This could mean her work was in the past. We’ll talk about that more in a minute.

APPLICATION

Tryphaena and Tryphosa were probably sisters, according to many scholars. Their names are similar, a common custom in those days. MacLauren says they “were probably Roman ladies of some social standing.” Their names mean luxurious or delicate which may indicate they were raised to be removed from any kind of hard labor. But here Paul says they were “workers.” The Greek word there means to toil until exhausted. Obviously, their allegiance to Jesus had turned them into servants of the church.

Persis may have been an older woman (thus the past tense use of the same Greek word). Perhaps, since they are listed so closely in this verse, she may have mentored Tryphaena and Tryphosa. That is pure conjecture, but since they were in the same church, Persis probably had that role as an older woman. I love when I see older women spend time with younger women and convey the wisdom they have. That is truly being a disciple.

If you are a woman serving your church, thank you. The church has relied on women since it began. It’s not a coincidence that Jesus first appeared to a woman after His resurrection. Mary was the first messenger of His appearance. If you are a man, thank the women around you who have impacted your life. Every man comes forth from a woman. We owe them our very life. I praise God for all the women who have walked with me in my journey with Christ.

Praise You, Lord, for godly women who work to further Your kingdom here on earth.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Three leatherworkers stitching a large leather piece in a historic market
Bible, Fellow worker, Gospel, Ministry, Romans, Scripture, Servant

FELLOW WORKERS

ROMANS 16:3

“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,”

I have been blessed in my ministry to have some awesome coworkers. Many of those have become lifelong friends. I pray you have friends and coworkers like that. When people have a common passion, it is so much easier to work together. On the other hand, when someone on your team isn’t bought in to the vision, it can become quite burdensome.

Paul first met Prisca and Aquila when they had to leave Rome because of Claudius’ decree that all Jews had to vacate the city. In Acts 18:2 we read, “And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome.” And they weren’t just acquaintances. They helped Paul early on in his ministry. In Acts 18:26 we are told, “and he began speaking boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained the way of God more accurately to him.” Fellow workers can help teach us, as well.

APPLICATION

Prisca and Acquila are mentioned again in 1 Corinthians 16:19. “The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.” They actually hosted a church in their home. Getting kicked out of Rome didn’t deter them. Coming to the aid of a new believer like Paul didn’t distract them. They were committed followers of Christ who joined arms with anyone who was like-minded in their mission to see the Gospel preached.

We also read in Acts 18:3 that Paul lived with them for a period of time since they had the same trade as tent makers. Not only did they minister together, but they also worked together. Can you just picture them sewing together these tents? I can imagine them praying over each as they were sold. I know a couple I have met several times at conferences who sell Christian t-shirts. As each shirt is sold, they pray for the buyer. It is really a precious thing to watch.

With whom are you linked together with in ministry? What else do you have in common? One of my ministry colleagues is also a hunter like me. We can talk about sharing the Gospel and about hunting. What a blessing. Find like-minded believers to do life with. I promise you will bless each other and make your ministry that much more fruitful.

Thank You, Lord, for the people You have put in my life over the years.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Aid, Bible, Conflict, Fellow worker, Helping, Scripture

HELP EACH OTHER

PHILIPPIANS 4:3

“Indeed, true companion, I ask you also, help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement as well as the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

I like to help people when I can. Don’t you? If I am able and available, I like to lend a hand. I also like to help people who just need a listening ear. In my ministry, I often have that opportunity. Men need to talk but are usually afraid to get too personal too quick. I understand that, but I am called to listen and point them to the Word. I have to be honest, though. I haven’t always done that with my own family. Don’t point your finger at me. I bet you could say the same thing.

Paul loved these two women mentioned in verse 2, Euodia and Syntyche. Paul said they had “shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel.” They were fellow servants. Paul obviously wanted them to come to the same mind about some issue they were arguing about. He knew their squabble could infect the whole church. It must have been pretty serious to have reached Paul’s ears in Rome. So, he calls on the church to come alongside them to end this.

APPLICATION

My Pastor has been preaching a series on relationships the past several weeks. You can listen to these at https://www.youtube.com/@CorrytonChurch. The past couple of sermons have been about dealing with conflict. I wish Euodia and Syntyche had heard ths message. It was pretty powerful. Matthew 18:15-19 gives us some good advice on dealing with conflict within the body of Christ. Don’t you wish every believer would practice these words of Christ?

I was reminded of a verse I had not heard in a while in my pastor’s sermon. Amos 3:3 says, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Isn’t that just the truth? I love to walk. When I walk with someone, we have to agree on the path we are taking, the speed to walk and how far we are going to walk. If we don’t do that, we are not going to be walking together. The same is true in our Christian walk with fellow believers.

The Greek word Paul uses for “help” is an interesting word. It can mean to clasp, seize, to conceive, help or take. That’s a pretty broad definition, isn’t it. It’s the strong compound word, sullambanó. The first part of that compound is sun, which is that inseparable “with.” In other words, we are to help closely. Try that today. Be that kind of friend. Perhaps you will need that yourself one day.

O Lord, help me help others today in way that can spur them on their walk with Christ.

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Bible, Fellow worker, Loyalty, Partner, Scripture

ONE OF THE FEW

COLOSSIANS 4:11

“and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.”

Sometimes when you move to a new city you will have a few of your new neighbors who reach out. They become the few among the many who make you feel welcomed. My wife and I moved to a new city one year ago and into a fairly large subdivision. It’s sad to say but the only neighbors we have met are the ones we have reached out to. No one has come to our door with a welcome gift or a casserole (that’s popular in the South). We should all be better neighbors.

Paul, however, had a few Jewish believers who stuck with him. We mentioned two of those yesterday, Mark or John Mark and Aristarchus. Many of the other Jewish believers were pretty fickle in their support for Paul. But here is Jesus (also called Justus) who Paul describes as a “fellow worker for the kingdom of God.” What a great compliment from Paul. Paul valued fellow workers because he knew he could not do the work alone. We are no different.

APPLICATION

Too many Christians fail because they think they can do it alone. This term fellow worker, used by Paul almost exclusively in the New Testament, is the Greek word sunergos. Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance says it comes, “From a presumed compound of sun and the base of ergon; a co-laborer, i.e. Coadjutor — companion in labour, (fellow-) helper (-labourer, -worker), labourer together with, workfellow.” Remember, that preposition sun is that inseparable “with.”

Paul uses sunergos in Romans 16:3, 9, 16; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 1:24, 8:23; Philippians 4:3, 11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; and Philemon 1, 24. Look up these verses and see who Paul is talking about. Can you just imagine your name listed there as one of Paul’s fellow workers? That would be awesome.

Only John, besides Paul, uses this term in 1 John 1:8. “Therefore we ought to support such people, so that we may prove to be fellow workers with the truth.” And he gives the same weight to this term. We should all be fellow workers with the truth. Amen. Are you?

Father, make me into the kind of fellow worker with others that they need and give me fellow workers to accomplish all You have for me to do.

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