Tryphosa

Tryphosa (meaning thrice shining or delicate) was a Christian woman at Rome whom Paul commended together with her companion Tryphaena in his letter to the Romans: "Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa" (Romans 16:12). The Greek word translated "workers" (kopiosai) is the same term Paul applies to himself and other apostolic laborers (1 Corinthians 15:10; Galatians 4:11; Philippians 2:16), indicating that Tryphaena and Tryphosa were engaged in substantive, recognized ministry — not merely social support. The similarity of their names suggests they may have been sisters, perhaps twins.

Beyond this single verse, nothing further is known of Tryphosa from Scripture or from confirmed historical records. Her name appears in Roman epigraphic evidence and was not uncommon in the Hellenistic world. The pattern of Romans 16 — in which Paul greets more than two dozen individuals by name, including Phoebe, Prisca, Mary, Junia, and Persis alongside Tryphosa and Tryphaena — reflects the significant and diverse contribution of women to the early Roman church's ministry and leadership. Tryphosa's inclusion in this carefully composed list marks her as a known and honored worker in the apostolic network, whose faithful labor in Rome was remembered and commended by Paul across the distance of his Mediterranean mission.