Persis Series

TITLE: PERSIS

Scripture: Romans 16:12 (NIV)

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.

Introduction

In Romans 16.12 of the New Testament, Persis is a Roman woman who was an early follower of Christ, mentioned by St. Paul in a letter as "beloved" and having "worked hard in the Lord."

Paul adds three more names to his list of people for his readers in Rome to greet on his behalf. Tryphaena and Tryphosa are thought to be sisters and perhaps enslaved people or formerly enslaved people. Their names come from a word that means "delicate" or "dainty." Paul describes them as women who worked hard in the Lord. Persis, perhaps another enslaved person or formerly enslaved person, is also described as one who worked hard in the Lord and is beloved.

Paul often commends Christians for their diligence and hard work, especially when done in ministry or the Lord. In the previous chapter. The Apostle described himself as proud of his work while quickly acknowledging that Christ had accomplished that work through him (Romans 15:17–19). One of the mysteries of the Christian life is that God uses His power to amplify our hard work in the Lord for His grand purposes.

Romans 16:1–16 includes a list of two dozen or so people or groups that Paul wants his readers to greet for him in Rome. He introduces them to Phoebe, the lady who will deliver this letter from him in Corinth. He asks them to greet his good friends and longtime partners in work and ministry, Prisca—or Priscilla—and Aquila, who have returned to Rome from their time in Asia. Also on the list are close friends, enslaved people, royal families, and members of the various house churches that meet in Rome

Additionally, in Romans 16:1-16, Paul recommends Phebe to the Christians in Rome. It becomes Christians to help one another in their affairs, especially strangers; we do not know what help we may need ourselves. Paul asks help for one that had been helpful to many; he that watereth shall also be watered himself. Though the care of all the churches came upon him daily, he could remember many persons and send salutations to each, with particular characters, and express concern for them. Lest any should feel hurt, as if Paul had forgotten them, he sends his remembrances to the rest, as brethren and saints, though not named. He adds, in the close, a general salutation to them all, in the name of the churches of Christ.

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. (Romans 16:12 (NIV )

Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa,

Tryphena and Tryphosa are female names. Paul addressed them jointly for some reason. They were likely sisters. Both were common names in the first century. Tryphena means dainty, and Tryphosa means delicate. Interestingly, these women with feminine names labored (worked hard) for the Lord.

Who have labored (worked hard) in the Lord.

This section indicated that four women labored for the Lord (Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis). Paul used the present tense for "labored," so these women were still working for the Lord when Paul wrote Romans. Interestingly, Paul mentioned only women who labored hard, not men.

Greet the beloved Persis [name meaning a woman from Persia],

Here is another woman Paul loved. She was "the beloved," not "my beloved." The idea is that the Roman church regarded her very highly. Persis was a slave name.

Who labored much (worked hard) in the Lord.

"Labored" here is in the past tense and means to labor hard to the point of weakness. Persis's hard work gave her standing in the Roman church. Paul gave no reason why Persis worked harder than Tryphena and Tryphosa, but he simply stated that she labored to exhaustion.

Tryphena and Tryphosa.—were probably sisters or close relatives. They also may have been attached to the court.

Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persia, which labored much in the Lord. All these women seem to have been Church workers, and the last at least, from the way St. Paul speaks of her, must have been known by him and done work of which he was familiar. It is to be observed how, in calling her "the beloved," he avoids, with delicate propriety, adding "my," as he does in speaking of his male friends.

Paul spoke to the members of the Roman church, saying, "Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord,... These two women are said to be noble women of Iconium, whom the Apostle converted while there, and afterward went to Rome. The names are Greek, though they might be Jewish women since Tryphon is a man's name among the Jews. Trypho, the famous Jew with whom Justin Martyr had his dialogue, is well known, and perhaps is the same with R. Tarphon, or Tryphon, so often mentioned in the Misnic and Talmudic writings: however, as these were women, their labor cannot be understood of their laboring in the word of the Lord, or the public ministry of it, since the Apostle forbade this, and therefore would never commend them on account of it; but of their great usefulness and indefatigableness, in serving the interest of their dear Lord with their purses; in relieving the poor of the church, in entertaining and supplying the ministers of the Gospel, as well as by their private instructions, exhortations, and giving an account of their own experience, whereby they might greatly encourage, edify, and strengthen young converts, and other Christians, as Priscilla with her husband did; and were unwearied in doing everything that they were capable of, in promoting the Gospel and kingdom of Christ: