[Greek] συνεργέω (synergeō), [Latin] cooperare, [Latin] adiuvare, [French] aider, [German] mitworken: to work together, to be a fellow worker, to help in the work, to cooperate, to collaborate, to be coworker; Mk.16:20, Rom.8:28, 1Cor.16:16, 2Cor.6:1, Jas.2:22
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to work together, to assist, to cooperate, to contribute to do a fitting service to others, and to facilitate, and to be an accomplice.
Euripides’ Helen 1427: “Do not become a slave to your slaves, Lord.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 2.3.18: “What if a pair of hands refused the help of mutual help for which God made them, for which they are fashioned. That is is how you two are behaving at present.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 2.6.21: “Some elements in man’s nature make for friendship, need one another, feel pity, and work for the common good.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 2.6.21: “But there are hostile elements in men. They fight for them, fall out and take sides opposite of this term.”
Plato’s Symposium 212b: “The best helper that our human nature can hope to find is Love.”
Xenophon’s Memorabilia 3.5.16: “Instead of working together for the general good, they are more envious and bitter against one another and are the most quarrelsome of men in public and private assemblies.”
Euripides’ Orestes 1446: “But his accomplice, the Phocian villain, was off on other business.”
Old Testament: This term, used only once, means to assist. The Jewish Hellenistic philosopher Philo refers to recollection as a helper, cooperators in sin, and deceitful helpers of idolatry. God needs no help in knowledge or creation. There is no human helper on the way to virtue. The Hellenistic philosopher Josephus refers to a theological synergy (God helping man).
New Testament: This term means to work together, to work with, to be active with, to be a fellow worker. Paul instructs the Corinthians to be deferential (supportive) of those servants who devote themselves to the holy ones. James points out that Abraham’s faith was active along with his works. God makes everything work all for good in His Providence. After Jesus’ ascension, the disciples preached everywhere while God worked with them and the confirmed the Word with accompanying signs.
Scripture:
“You see that faith was active along with Abraham’s works, and faith was completed by the works.” Jas.2:22
Abraham’s faith was exemplified and carried out by actions in offering to sacrifice his son Isaac to the Lord. Faith must be active.
“We all know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called to His purpose.” Rom.8:28
God makes everything work for the good of His Providence. This outlines the Christian vocation as it was designed by God.
Synergy: This involves the interaction or cooperation of two or more entities (organizations, agents, substances) to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate parts.
Conclusion:
Work, synergy, synergism, cooperation, cooperate, aid, adjutant
In the Old Testament, this term is primarily defined by one’s relationship with God. God does not require help but also can be a helper to man. This term plays a prominent role in the moral sphere.
Even after ascending to heaven, Jesus continues to work with the disciple in their works. Working with God brings forth vocations. Faith can only be active with works. Faith without works is either dead or inconsequential.
Update: Christians are called to humbly serve (sometimes like a slave) to others. This notion oftentimes runs counter against the world’s notion of selfishness, self-reliance, and narcissism.
Prayers (people praying together) are continually needed for those families who lost loved ones.
Many of us still refuse, scoff, or fail to consider the notion of using our God-given time, talents, and treasures in serving others.
The old Baltimore Catechism states that God created us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him (and others).
Often times political sides will fall out and take entrenched positions regarding important political issues and crises.
Both sides must work together to find consensus in preventing another school shooting tragedy.
Ukraine is now considering working with the US military in transport grain out of their country.
It goes with out saying that God is our best helper.
The US Congress unfortunately illustrates the most quarrelsome of men (and women) in public assemblies.
The US govt. is now forced in a situation requiring help from Europe in obtaining infant formula.
We are now seeing a very disturbing worldly view where people scoff at the very notion of people offering their prayers. (In other words, they are saying: “What does that accomplish!”)
Reckless spending, supply chain issues, the Ukraine War, and the lack of domestic energy (oil and gas) production have all ‘worked together’ to create inflation and high gas prices.
Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity: We celebrate the working together of the Three Persons (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) of the one God.
It is just so difficult to conceive that we continually see shooting tragedies. As a result each political side takes hold of their entrenched positions of gun control or gun rights. We need to take a pregnant pause to come together and join in helping to enact legislation to curtail these events. We all must acknowledge that mental health, the broken family, and economic issues all have worked together to create the conditions for some persons to act out with anger and violence. We also must seize the opportunity to identify and correct the security failures and mistakes in responding to such events. As Russian continues to control part of Ukraine, the West must continue to join in helping the Ukrainians to overcome the Russian occupiers. Many are still astonished but perhaps not surprised that there is no urgency to become to energy dependent. Instead, overtures are being made to work with Iran and Venezuela to obtain their oil. All of these circumstances are working together to potentially bring new Republican leadership in Congress and later in the White House.
Next post: seizing and conceiving