Mary

Info

• #coworker #female
• Home:: Roman Church
• Other Locales:: None recorded
• References:: Romans 16#16:6

Notes

• Commended by Paul for having "worked very hard for you"
• One of at least six Marys in the New Testament

Summary

Mary of Rome is mentioned once in Romans 16#16:6, where Paul writes, "Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you." She is the first woman Paul greets in the Roman letter.

The name Mary was the most common Jewish women's name in first-century Palestine and the diaspora. At least six Marys appear in the New Testament. That Paul names this Mary specifically indicates she was a known and respected figure in the Roman church.

Paul says Mary "worked very hard" (polla ekopiasen), the verb kopiaō intensified by polla. This is the same verb Paul uses for his own apostolic toil and for church leaders. The addition of polla makes Mary's commendation stronger than what he gives Tryphena, Tryphosa, or even Persis. The phrase "for you" indicates her work was directed toward the Roman congregation, she labored for their benefit.

Whether Mary was a Jewish or Gentile believer is debated. The name was Jewish in origin, but by the first century it had spread to some Gentile usage. Given Paul's Roman context and the mixed Jewish-Gentile character of the Roman church, either is possible.

Mary represents the backbone of the early church, women whose persistent labor sustained local congregations and whose work Paul considered important enough to acknowledge in his most theologically significant letter.

References

• theodoretCommentaryRomansc425 - Theodoret of Cyrus's patristic commentary on Romans, with early church interpretation of Mary in Romans 16:6.
• mouleEpistlePaulApostle2015 - Moule's commentary on Romans covering Mary's mention in Romans 16:6.
• bruceRomans2014 - F.F. Bruce's Romans commentary addressing Mary in Romans 16:6.
• mcclainRomansGospelGod1989 - McClain's Romans commentary covering Mary in Paul's closing greetings.
• mooEncounteringBookRomans2002 - Moo's Romans survey covering the greetings context where Mary appears in Romans 16:6.
• Romans 16:6 Commentaries - BibleHub
• What does Romans 16:6 mean? - BibleRef.com