Romans 16

“Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord ...” (12). Paul concluded his letter to the church in Rome by greeting people he knew and mentioning their roles in the continuing story of God’s redemption through Jesus. Ordinary women and men, Jew and Gentile, they were friends (8), co-laborers (3), house church leaders (5), and apostles (10). Persis worked “very hard” (12), and Apelles “stood the test” (10). These faithful believers (10) were probably unknown in society, yet God built his church through their witness in difficult times.

“All the Lord’s people” (15) are needed to be Christ’s Body in the world, extending God’s love, mercy, hope, and forgiveness wherever he has placed each one of us.