‘Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord.'

The similar names may suggest that these ladies were twins. Both names occur in Roman inscriptions. Paul clearly knew of their activities as Christians, probably though their work among the poor and needy.

‘Salute Persis the beloved, who laboured much in the Lord.'

The name Persis means ‘Persian woman' and was found in Roman inscriptions. Note that it is ‘the beloved' not ‘my beloved'. Paul may well have been wary of calling a woman ‘my beloved'. The contrast with Romans 16:12 a suggests that in some way she was outstanding. She ‘laboured much' and was ‘beloved'.

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