Persis

Biblical Record

Persis appears only once in Scripture, in Romans 16:12. In sending greetings to the believers in Rome, Paul wrote, "Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord." Immediately before her, Tryphena and Tryphosa are mentioned as those "who labour in the Lord." Scripture records nothing else about her life, family, origin, or later activities.

The name transliterates the Greek Persis. It is usually interpreted as meaning "Persian woman," but this is only the meaning of the name and does not indicate where she actually came from. She is understood to be a woman because the Greek text refers to her with feminine forms.

Significance Within Scripture

Several women are named in Romans 16, including Phoebe, Priscilla, and Junia. Persis is one of those described as having worked for the church. The Greek verb translated "labour" is one Paul also uses when speaking of his own ministry and of the service of church leaders. For this reason, Persis is frequently cited as an example of women's active participation in gospel ministry in the early church.

Interpretation and Points of Discussion

• In the same chapter Paul calls several people "my beloved," but he calls Persis simply "the beloved." Some commentators see this as Paul choosing his words carefully to avoid any misunderstanding regarding a female believer.
• The labor of Tryphena and Tryphosa is expressed in the present tense, whereas that of Persis is expressed in the past tense. On this basis, some speculate that Persis was older or that her period of activity came earlier. The text itself does not state this.
• How this passage bears on the debate over women's ordination varies among denominations and scholars. Those who support women's ordination read it as evidence that Paul recognized women's ministry as genuine partnership in the work. Those who oppose it hold that "labour" refers only to service and ministry and does not imply an office or governing authority.
• Some scholars have suggested that Romans 16 may originally have been addressed to the church at Ephesus. Most, however, regard it as greetings sent to the church at Rome.

In the Korean Church

Both the Korean Revised Version and the New Korean Revised Version render her name as "Beosi" (버시). Sermons or study materials devoted specifically to Persis are rare. She is typically mentioned alongside Paul's other coworkers in expositions of Romans 16.