Tryphena and Tryphosa

Tryphena and Tryphosa (meaning: luxurious) are two women greeted by Paul at the close of his epistle to the Romans: "Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphena and Tryphosa" (Rom. 16:12). The similarity of their names suggests they were sisters, possibly twins, though they may simply have been fellow workers in the same church community. Their designation as "workers in the Lord" places them in the same category of active Christian ministry as others Paul commends in Romans 16 — a chapter remarkable for the number of women it honors as significant contributors to the early church.

Beyond this single verse nothing is known of them. Their Latin names suggest Roman citizenship or origin. The closing chapter of Romans 16, with its greetings to Priscilla, Mary, Junia, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, and others, provides evidence of the substantial role women played in the establishment of the Roman Christian community before Paul himself had visited the city.