Friday, July 19, 2024

The Vision (7.19.24): Fellowhelpers [synergoi] to the Truth

 


Image: St. John, Frans Hals, 1625, Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Note: Devotion taken from last Sunday's sermon on 3 John 1-8:

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth (3 John 8).

In his third epistle, the apostle John addresses Gaius (v. 1), likely a faithful minister in the church, commending and exhorting him to continue to receive and help orthodox teachers who sought his hospitality and support. In so doing, John says, “we might be fellowhelpers in the truth.”

Behind the compound noun “fellowhelpers” is the Greek plural noun synergoi. We might say “synergists.” This term appears at least twelve other times in the NT, all else in Paul’s writings. Compare:

In Romans 16:3 Paul refers to Priscilla and Aquila as “my helpers in Christ Jesus.” They took him into their home when he first came to Corinth (see Acts 18:1-3).

He uses the same term to describe a man name Urbanus as his helper in Romans 16:9 and Timothy in Romans 16:21.

In 1 Corinthians 3:9 he says to the Corinthian church, “For we are labourers together with God…”

In 2 Corinthians 1:24 he refers to himself and those who ministered with him before the Corinthians as “helpers of your joy.”

In 2 Corinthians 8:23 he refers to Titus as “my partner [koinōnos] and helper [synergos] concerning you.”

In Philippians 2:25 he refers to Ephaphroditus as his “companion in labour.”

In Phillippians 4:3 he makes mention of men like the “true yokefellow” and Clement who would try to broker peace between two women locked in dispute [Euodia and Synteche] as “my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”

In Colossians 4:10-11 he commends Aristarchus, Marcus, and Justus as “fellowworkers unto the kingdom of God.”

In 1 Thessalonians 3:2 he refers to Timothy as “our fellowlabourer in the gospel” (cf. Romans 16:21).

In Philemon 1:1 he refers to Philemon as “our dearly beloved, and fellow labourer.”

Later in the same letter, he names four men, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, and Lucas as “my fellowlabourers” (Philemon 1:24).

Here in 3 John, the apostle John takes up the same term and uses it, as did Paul, to refer to those who were willing to serve the Lord within his church, alongside of others, as helpers and laborers.

It does not refer to synergy in salvation. Salvation is monergistic (an act of God alone), not synergistic. As Jonah said in the belly of the great fish, “Salvation is of the LORD” (Jonah 2:9). But we do believe in synergy in ministry.

The Lord is pleased to use those who will labor in synergy with the Lord and with one another to build his kingdom.

How do we do that?

Through faithful presence and participation.

Through faithful giving.

Through faithful hospitality.

Through faithful praying.

Through faithful interest in the cause of Christ and his kingdom.

So, let it be said of us that we too are “fellowhelpers” to the truth.

Grace and peace, Pastor Jeff Riddle

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