Persis
Persis
Info
- #coworker #female
- Home:: Roman Church
- Other Locales:: None recorded
- References:: Romans 16#16:12
Notes
- Called "the beloved" (tēn agapētēn) by Paul - a term of personal affection
- Commended for having "worked hard in the Lord"
Summary
Persis is mentioned once in Romans 16#16:12, where Paul writes, "Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord."
The name "Persis" means "Persian woman," suggesting she may have been of Persian descent or a freedwoman who took the name from her ethnic origin. The name is well attested in Roman inscriptions, particularly among freed persons.
Paul calls Persis "the beloved," using the definite article in a way that suggests personal familiarity. He commends her for having "worked hard in the Lord." The verb kopiaō, to toil, labor to exhaustion, is Paul's standard term for serious ministry work. He uses it for his own apostolic labor (1 Corinthians 15#15:10), for church leaders (1 Thessalonians 5#5:12), and for several women in Romans 16: Mary "worked hard for you" (Romans 16#16:6), and Tryphena and Tryphosa "work hard in the Lord."
The past tense "worked hard" (aorist) may suggest that Persis's most intensive labor was in the past, though it could simply summarize her track record of service.
Persis represents the women in the Roman church whose ministry labor Paul publicly recognized, women who were not apostles or formal office-holders but whose work sustained the community.
References
- theodoretCommentaryRomansc425 - Theodoret of Cyrus's patristic commentary on Romans, with early church interpretation of Persis in Romans 16:12.
- mouleEpistlePaulApostle2015 - Moule's commentary on Romans covering Persis's mention in Romans 16:12.
- bruceRomans2014 - F.F. Bruce's Romans commentary addressing Persis in Romans 16:12.
- mcclainRomansGospelGod1989 - McClain's Romans commentary covering Persis in Paul's closing greetings.
- mooEncounteringBookRomans2002 - Moo's Romans survey covering the greetings context where Persis appears in Romans 16:12.
- Romans 16:12 Commentaries - BibleHub
- What does Romans 16:12 mean? - BibleRef.com