This article is part 2 of a series exploring the significance of the New Testament Greek preposition “sun”, which expresses togetherness in Christian living.
In response to the numerous challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses realized that “working from home” was a viable option for many employees. What had previously been considered a privilege for a select few became a widespread practice. Unsurprisingly, it appears that Monday and Friday became the preferred days for working from home.
Technology has advanced to such an extent that being physically present is no longer necessary to hold meetings, conduct business and perform work-related tasks. Working from home does not mean working alone. Software options can facilitate remote access to a network and “real-time teamwork”. Physical proximity is no longer a necessity in every workplace, but it probably remains a desired option for many.
The Apostle Paul did not live in an age of Teams or Google Docs. There was no option to FaceTime, create a WhatsApp group or send an email. However, he acknowledged the support he received from fellow Christians, who, despite being distant, had helped him in his struggles. They had been communicating, not with him, but, with God, through prayer, on his behalf.
“you also helping together in prayer for us” (2 Corinthians 1:11).
Although remote from Paul, they were not remote from God, who was not remote from Paul.
As he wrote 2 Corinthians, Paul reflected on the serious trouble he had encountered and endured in Asia, as he served the Lord.
“For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life” (2 Corinthians 1:8).
Paul could look back and see that the extremity of his circumstances had cast him upon the Lord, who had delivered him from his near-death experience.
“Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us” (2 Corinthians 1:10-11).
Having been delivered, he relied on the Lord for ongoing and future deliverance, but, he was careful to acknowledge the part the Corinthians had played.
“you also helping together in prayer for us" (2 Corinthians 1:11).
In this part of the verse, Paul uses a Greek compound word “sunupourgeo”, which is only found here in the New Testament. It is comprised of three Greek words combined into one word. The prefix “sun”, usually translated as “with”, is added to the root “ergon”, primarily translated as “work”. Finally, there is the addition (in the middle of the word) of “hupo”, often translated as “under”.
As a compound word, it conveys the idea of “work with and under another”, which came to mean “to work alongside and support someone”.
Paul is expressing his appreciation for the Corinthians who had worked with him, and supported him through prayer, in his labours for the Lord. He wasn’t just a name on a prayer list, or a fading prayer card posted on a noticeboard. For prayer, he used the word “deesis”, which means “to entreat or request”. He had in mind their specific requests, focused on his specific situation.
Perhaps, as an individual Christian, you are feeling a little remote from a particular circumstance. You may be wondering how you can help? It could be a marriage in trouble or a friend losing touch with the Lord and making poor choices. Perhaps the students in your local church are a burden to you as they grow in their faith and walk with the Lord, or you may know of a gospel outreach in an area, but you are housebound or incapacitated and cannot get involved physically. You hear of a diagnosis, and you are not a physician. Perhaps you hear of a crisis which has engulfed Christians far away and you are oceans apart. It could be that someone has a tragedy within their family, and you feel ill-equipped to help.
How about some remote working?
By staying informed and praying, we can be as much help as the Corinthians had been to Paul. We can learn from their example and help with specific prayer, making specific requests in response to a specific situation. Their prayers made a difference, and Paul appreciated them in his troubles.
We can be remote workers, “working from home”, for the Lord.
“you also helping together in prayer for us” (2 Corinthians 1:11).
