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Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n There are many hard working women in the church!<\/p>\n The names \u201cTryphena and Tryphosa<\/span>\u201d are Greek and are both derived from the verb trupha\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto live luxuriously.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLabored<\/span>\u201d is translated from the Greek word kopia\u014d<\/em><\/span>, which we saw back in verse six means \u201cto work hard to the point of feeling fatigued.\u201d There is another Greek word, ergadzomai<\/em><\/span>, which is usually translated \u201cwork.\u201d Kopia\u014d<\/em><\/span>, however, implies long, hard labor, much greater than simply ergadzomai<\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n The name \u201cPersis<\/span>\u201d means \u201ca Persian woman.\u201d<\/p>\n The next three people to be greeted by the Apostle Paul are all women who worked for God in some capacity. The first two, Tryphena and Tryphosa are believed to be sisters and may, in fact, have been twins. They are said to have been noble women of Iconium and may likely have been converted under Paul\u2019s ministery there. Paul tells us that these two women were not simply workers in the ministry with him, they were laborers, that is, they worked hard. The other woman mentioned in this verse is Persis who, he says, labored much in her service to God. She apparently worked hard for many hours.<\/p>\n Some commentators have gone to great lengths to assert that these women did not preach. Such a waste of time and effort! Nowhere in the Scriptures are we told that women can\u2019t preach. Paul does give specific instruction regarding elders (probably pastors) and bishops (senior pastors) in his letters to Timothy and Titus:<\/p>\n For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you\u2014if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.<\/span> (Titus 1:5-6<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n This is<\/em> <\/span>a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;<\/span> (1Timothy 3:1-2<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n The word translated \u201chusband<\/span>\u201d is specifically male and the word for \u201cwife<\/span>\u201d is specifically female. So a woman is not to be an elder or a bishop. Paul is also very specific about women not teaching men or having authority over a man in the church:<\/p>\n And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. <\/span>(1Titus 2:12<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n But, the Bible does not tell us that women are not to preach the Gospel message. And, Paul tells Titus very specifically that the older women are <\/strong>to be teachers of other women (Titus 2:3, 4<\/strong><\/span>).<\/p>\n God knew that Paul would need help from some very hard working people. We see here that a number of those hard workers were women. The church today would not be nearly as effective as it is except for the many hard working women who commit their time and effort to God in the local church. Thank you ladies for your hard work!<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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