Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have worked hard in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Parallel translations
- WEB Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
- KJV Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
- NKJV Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
- NASB Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.
- NLT Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Paul greets Tryphaena, Tryphosa, and Persis, three women he honors for their hard work in the Lord. It shows that diligent gospel labor was valued in the early church regardless of social standing.
Overview
Continuing his roll-call of greetings, Paul singles out three women, twice using the verb for laboring 'in the Lord,' the same word he uses elsewhere for his own apostolic toil. Tryphaena and Tryphosa, possibly sisters, and Persis 'the beloved' are commended not for status but for wholehearted Christian service. The passage testifies to the prominent and active role women had in the work of the early church, all of it grounded in union with Christ.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Th 5:12–13But we ask you, brothers, to acknowledge those who work diligently among you, who preside over you in the Lord and give you instruction.
- 1 Cor 15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Heb 6:10–11For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- 1 Cor 16:16to submit to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer.
- Matt 9:38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
- 1 Th 1:3and continually recalling before our God and Father your work of faith, your labor of love, and your enduring hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Col 1:29To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
- 1 Cor 15:10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
- 1 Tim 4:10To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe.
- Col 4:12Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
- 1 Tim 5:17–18Elders who lead effectively are worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Paul unfolds the gospel in full: Christ our righteousness received by faith, the second Adam in whom many are made righteous, in whose death and resurrection we are buried and raised.
How Romans 16:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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