Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis Romans 16:12

As Paul the apostle continued to list certain individuals to greet among the believers in Rome, he told them to, “Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord”, and in chapter sixteen and verse twelve of Romans, Paul instructed the believers to, “salute Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis” where we read:

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.

Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord.

The verse begins, “Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord.” Paul began with the word, “salute” which means “greet, bid welcome, wish well to and receive joyfully” “Tryphena” whose name means “luxurious” and was “a Christian woman”, “and Tryphosa” whose name means “luxuriating” and was “a Christian woman”, “who labor” or “these women grow weary, tired and exhausted with wearisome effort and toil” “in the Lord” which refers to “within he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Paul wanted the believers in Rome to “salute” “Tryphena and Tyrphosa” whom he acknowledged as “tireless workers” in the Lord's work.

The verse continues, “Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord.” Paul added the words, “salute” which means “greet, bid welcome, wish well to and receive joyfully” “the beloved” which means “the esteemed, dear, favorite and worthy of love” “Persis” whose name means “a Persian woman” and was “a Christian woman at Rome”, “which labored much” or “who grew weary, tired and exhausted with wearisome effort and toil” “in the Lord” which means “within he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Paul also desired to have the believers “greet” “Persis” who was another Christian woman in Rome who “toiled tirelessly” in the Lord's work.

When we consider these words of Paul, we admire these women workers within the church. Paul knew them by name, and he recognized their “wearisome effort” toward the ministry. People who receive Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” are often put in positions to serve, and “Tryphena, Tryphosa and Persis” were great examples of the manner in which they should work.

Next time Paul tells the believers in Rome to “salute Rufus,... and his mother”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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