Romans 16:12

Τρύφαιναν καὶ Τρυφῶσαν : “It was usual to designate members of the same family by derivatives of the same root” (Lightfoot): hence these two women were probably sisters. The names, which might be rendered “Dainty” and “Disdain” (see James 5:5; Isaiah 66:11) are characteristically pagan, and unlike the description τὰς κοπιώσας, “who toil in the Lord”. They are still at work, but the “much toil” of Persis, the beloved, belongs to some occasion in the past. τὴν ἀγαπητήν : Paul does not here add μου as with the men's names in Romans 16:8-9. Persis was dear to the whole Church.