4069. Persis

Lexical Summary

Persis: Persis

Original Word: Περσίς
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Persis
Pronunciation: PER-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (per-sece')
KJV: Persis
NASB: Persis
Word Origin: [from ???]

1. a Persian woman
2. Persis, a Christian female

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Persis.

A Persian woman; Persis, a Christian female -- Persis.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
fem. noun from Persikos (Persian)
Definition
Persis, a Christian at Rome
NASB Translation
Persis (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4069: Περσίς

Περσίς (literally, 'a Persian woman'), ἡ, accusative Περσίδα, Persis, a Christian woman: Romans 16:12.

Topical Lexicon

Setting and Historical Background

Romans 16 preserves one of the earliest snapshots of a local congregation. Among more than two dozen individuals greeted by Paul, Persis stands out as one of the few believers specifically praised for unusually strenuous labor in the Lord. Her name, familiar in the Roman world, hints at an origin from the eastern provinces of the Empire; the presence of a Persian woman in the capital illustrates the Gospel’s rapid reach across ethnic and cultural lines.

Biblical Occurrence and Immediate Context

Romans 16:12 reads: “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who have labored in the Lord. Greet my beloved Persis, who has labored much in the Lord.”

1. Paul calls her “my beloved,” a term of deep personal affection he also applies to Epaenetus (Romans 16:5) and Ampliatus (Romans 16:8).
2. The verb translated “labored much” (ἐκοπίασεν) stresses wearisome toil and is intensified here by the adverb “much.” Paul uses the same verb elsewhere for apostolic exertion (1 Corinthians 15:10; Colossians 1:29), underscoring that Persis’s ministry rose to a comparable level of self-giving effort.

Role in the Early Church

• Servant-Leadership: Though no office title is attached, Paul’s language implies recognized spiritual service. In first-century congregations, such labor often involved hosting gatherings, caring for the poor, discipling converts, and assisting itinerant workers (compare Phoebe in Romans 16:1-2).
• Female Partnership in Mission: Persis appears in the company of Tryphena and Tryphosa, and earlier in the chapter Paul mentions Prisca, Mary, and Junia. Their clustering highlights a network of women whose contributions were essential to the life and expansion of the church.
• Cross-Cultural Witness: A woman possibly of Persian descent serving prominently in Rome embodies the unity Christ brings (Galatians 3:28) and anticipates the multiethnic makeup of the mature church described in Revelation 7:9.

Character and Commendation

Paul’s brief commendation conveys three traits:

1. Diligence—her effort went beyond ordinary participation (“labored much”).
2. Endurance—copious toil implies persistence under hardship, a quality Paul prizes in ministry (1 Thessalonians 2:9).
3. Christ-centered Motivation—all her exertion was “in the Lord,” anchoring activity in union with Christ rather than personal ambition.

Connections with Other Scripture

• Persis models the exhortation of 1 Corinthians 15:58: “always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.”
• Her example parallels that of Epaphroditus, who “nearly died for the work of Christ” (Philippians 2:30), showing that wholehearted service transcends gender and vocation.
• The stress on labor recalls Proverbs 31:27, where the virtuous woman “does not eat the bread of idleness,” reinforcing continuity between Old and New Testament ideals of godly industry.

Legacy in Church Tradition

While later writings offer no additional details, early lists of Roman saints regularly include Persis, indicating that the memory of her devotion endured. Her solitary appearance in Scripture, coupled with Paul’s strong praise, turned her into an exemplar for Christian women who sought to combine humble service with doctrinal fidelity.

Practical Reflections for Today

1. Invisible Work Matters—tasks that attract little public attention can still merit apostolic commendation.
2. Diversity Enriches Ministry—backgrounds that once separated peoples now serve the Gospel’s advance.
3. Enduring Affection—Paul’s label “beloved” reminds congregations to honor faithful laborers with genuine warmth.

Summary

Persis embodies wholehearted, Christ-centered service that crosses cultural boundaries and strengthens the church. Her brief but vivid appearance in Romans encourages believers of every age to labor diligently, motivated by love for the Lord and affirmed by the fellowship of the saints.

Forms and Transliterations

Περσιδα Περσίδα Persida Persída

Englishman's Concordance

Romans 16:12 N-AFS
GRK: κυρίῳ ἀσπάσασθε Περσίδα τὴν ἀγαπητήν
NAS: Greet Persis the beloved,
KJV: the beloved Persis, which
INT: Lord greet Persis the beloved

Strong's Greek 4069
1 Occurrence

Περσίδα — 1 Occ.