6. TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA: LABOURERS FOR THE LORD

Romans 16:12 "Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord ..."

These names would have been unknown but for Paul's inspired inclusion of them in his epistle to Rome. Enough is said to give us a remarkable insight into their characters, and some valuable lessons.

6.1. THEIR RECOGNITION

The service of these Christian women along with other women in the chapter, received recognition. Paul recognised women who laboured i.e., worked hard to the point of fatigue. In Christ, there is no division. The message of the gospel came to a world which had three great clefts in it. Division between bondmen and freemen, Jew and Gentile, male and female. The gospel of Jesus Christ wiped out all three.

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In Christ There Is Equality Enjoyed By Male And Female

Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

	Paul removes all ethnic - racial - national - social - sexual - distinctions with regard to one's spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ.
	All equal heirs of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7 ).
	All equal in receiving the promised Holy Spirit by faith (Galatians 3:14 ).

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Christ Is The Example Of Submission Among Equals

1 Corinthians 11:3 "But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."

	No inferiority in submission among equals.
	It is a submission of choice.
	Lines of authority in marriage, not superiority.
	Wifely submission pictures the bride of Christ - submission. (Ephesians 5:22-24 ).
	Man learns submission to Christ through her.
	When Christ's own self-sacrificing love is shown to the wife, it is easy for her to submit.

Paul commends Tryphena and Tryphosa for much labour in the Lord.

Women Preached The Gospel.

Acts 8:3 "As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison."

Saul imprisoned men and women (Acts 8:1-5 ).

Philippians 4:3 "And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, ..."

Psalm 68:11 "The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it."

Note: Psalm 68:11 (Ryrie Margin) "The women who published the tidings are a great host."

Women Used To Teach Younger Women

Titus 2:3,4 "The aged women ... teachers of good things; ⁴ That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,"

"Aged women" probably female presbyters.

Women Gifted As Prophetesses

Acts 21:8,9 "... and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, .... ⁹ And the same man had four daughters, ... which did prophesy."

1 Corinthians 14:3,4 "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. ⁴ He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church."

Philip's 4 daughters prophesied. Edified - exhorted - comforted by the Holy Spirit.

Women Used In Leadership

Phoebe is an example of a woman used in leadership.

Romans 16:1 "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:"

In Romans chapter 16, Paul greets no less than 8 women, indicating distinguished service. Submission qualifies for service, for both men and women.

6.2. THEIR RELATIONSHIP

Their names "Tryphene" and "Tryphosa" are varied forms of one Greek word. This similarity in name evidences that they were either sisters or closely related. Their shared close relationship in Christ, sanctified and beautified the sweet family ties. True love had its roots in common love for Jesus. A common possession of His grace.

6.3. THEIR RENUNCIATION

Their names indicate the household from which they came. The meaning of their names indicate what their parents desired for their lives. They probably had the means to fulfil the desire. Their names mean "delicate living" and "luxuriousness". Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, the two women who renounced soft, luxurious, easy living, because they labour much in the Lord. They had turned their backs on their own rights.

The mark of robust and vigorous Christian life is self-denial and crucifixion. Christians turn their backs upon the delights of earth, and out of Tryphenas and Tryphosas, make toilers.

Christ's example,

Philippians 2:2-6 "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. ³ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. ⁴ Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. ⁵ Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: ⁶ Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:"

Luke 14:27-33 "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? ²⁹ Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, ³⁰ Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple."

Not pleasing ourselves

Romans 15:1-3 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. ³ For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."

The self denial is for the sake of being ready for service,

2 Timothy 2:21 "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."

The man given to self-denial is prepared. Heart, brain, hand, time, ready for service, having turned away from ease, pleasure, self - ready for work. Being hospitable to the needy.

Working Like Paul In Prayer

Prayed prophetically, which is on two supernatural levels.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 "For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

Our spirits praying by utterance of the Holy Spirit.

Our spirits praying with an utterance of the Holy Spirit in a known tongue.

Working Like Epaphras In Prayer

Colossians 4:12 "Epaphras, ... always labouring fervently for you in prayers, ..."

Persistent Prayers: "Always" Genesis 32:26 "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" Intelligent Prayer: "that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." NIV says "Stand firm, be mature, fully grown in all the will of God." Immaturity is the cause of missing and wandering from the will of God. Need for Holy Spirit informed, prophetic prayer. Renunciation of self makes us "vessels unto honour", prepared for every good work (2 Timothy 2:21 ).

6.4. THEIR RESOURCES

RIGHT MOTIVATION - "The Lord"

THEIR STRENGTH - Their strength for service "in the Lord": All their resources were in Christ by His Holy Spirit. The secret of Early Church accomplishments: "The Lord working with them" or "in the Lord".

6.5. THEIR REMEMBRANCE

The praise of these women's service has lasting through the centuries. Nothing done for Christ and in Him can perish. These women would have been astonished to know that their example would encourage us today. Your deed and mine, though poor and imperfect, your labour in the Lord, has guarantee of immortality. We work for eternity.

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."