Tryphaena
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
(Τρύφαινα, a Greek name)
Tryphaena is a woman saluted by St. Paul in Romans 16:12 and coupled with Tryphosa. The two are generally supposed to have been sisters, ‘or at least near relatives, for it was usual to designate members of the same family by derivatives of the same root’ (J. B. Lightfoot, Philippians 4 , London, 1878, p. 175). It is possible, however, that we have here twin-names denoting twin-sisters, either form being a feminine of Τρύφων according as the accent falls on the first or the second syllable. Similar twin-names, in which a slight modification of the consonants or vowels is sufficient to distinguish one from the other, are Huz and Buz ( Genesis 22:21), Muppim and Huppim ( Genesis 46:21), Yama and Yami (Rigveda), Romulus and Remus, Baltram and Sintram (see J. R. Harris, The Dioscuri in the Christian Legends , London, 1903, p. 1 f.). Tryphaena and Tryphosa are described as women ‘who labour in the Lord’ (τὰς κοπιώσας ἐν κυρίῳ). The verb, which suggests painstaking effort, is used in Romans 16 of women only-of Mary ( Romans 16:6), of Persis ( Romans 16:12)-but elsewhere describes apostolic and other ministerial labours. It is unlikely, therefore, that the work of these women was limited to practical benevolence, such as showing hospitality (see articlePersis). We shall picture their activity at Rome or Ephesus according to our view of the destination of the salutations in Romans 16. Both names are found in inscriptions of the Imperial household (Lightfoot, op. cit. ).
T. B. Allworthy.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible [2]
TRYPHÆNA . Greeted along with Tryphosa by St. Paul in Romans 16:12 , and described by him as labouring in the Lord. They were probably sisters or near relations, ‘for it was usual to designate members of the same family by derivatives of the same root.’ The common root makes their names signify ‘delicate,’ ‘luxurious’ a meaning which contrasts with their active Christian toil. Inscriptions in a cemetery used chiefly for the Emperor’s servants, contain both names; if we identify them with these, then they would be among ‘the saints of Cæsar’s household’ ( Philippians 4:22 ).
A Tryphæna plays a prominent part in the apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla .
Charles T. P. Grierson.
Holman Bible Dictionary [3]
Romans 16:12 Romans 16:1 Acts 18:26 Romans 16:3
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [4]
( Τρύφαινα , Luxurious ) , a person mentioned in connection with Tryphosa (q.v.), the two being Christian women at Rome, who, among those that are enumerated in the conclusion of Paul's letter to that city, receive a special salutation, and on the special ground that they are engaged there in "laboring in the Lord" ( Romans 16:12). A.D. 55. They may have been sisters, but it is-more likely that they were fellow-deaconesses, and among the predecessors of that large number of official women who ministered in the Church of Rome at a later period (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl. 6 :43); for it is to be observed that they are spoken of as at that time occupied in Christian service ( Τὰς Κοπιώσας ) , while the salutation to Persis, in the same verse, is connected with past service ( Ἣτις Ἐκοπίασεν ) .
We know nothing more of these two sister-workers of the apostolic time; but the name of one of them occurs curiously, with other names familiar to us in Paul's epistles, in the Apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla. See Thecla Legend
There Tryphsena appears as a rich Christian widow of Antioch, who gives Thecla a refuge in her house, and sends money to Paul for the relief of the poor (see Jones, On the Canon, 2, 371, 380). It is impossible to discern any trace of probability in this part of the legend.
It is an interesting fact that the columbaria of "Caesar's household" in the Vigna Qodini, near the Porta S. Sebastiano, at Rome, contain the name Tryphaena, as well as other names mentioned in this chapter, Philologus and Julia (Eccl. 6:15), and also Amplias ( Ecclesiastes 6:8). See Wordsworth, Tour in Italy (1862), 2, 173.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia [5]
tri - fē´na ( Τρύφαινα , Trúphaina ; the King James Version, Tryphena): Tryphaena is coupled with "Tryphosa" - among those members of the Christian community at Rome to whom Paul sends greetings ( Romans 16:12 ). He describes them as those "who labor in the Lord." "The names, which might be rendered 'Dainty' and 'Disdain' (see James 5:5; Isaiah 66:11 ), are characteristically pagan, and unlike the description" (Denney). They were probably sisters or near relatives, for "it was usual to designate members of the same family by derivatives of the same root" (Lightfoot, Phil , 175). Both names are found in inscriptions connected with the imperial household, "Tryphosa" occurring more frequently than "Tryphaena."
