10 Women Who Shook the Roman World with the Apostle Paul

If the 12 disciples of Jesus shook the ancient world, then 10 women in Rome shook the Roman world with the Apostle Paul. He names them as colleagues and friends in Romans 16:1–16.

Here are the ten:

1. Phoebe (Rom 16:1–2)

Although not an actual member of the congregations in Rome, Phoebe made her mark in history by being the letter courier for Paul’s letter to the Romans. It is possible that she also was the first to read the letter once she arrived in Rome. Phoebe appears to be a wealthy single woman who ministers in Cenchreae, near Corinth, where her home seems to be a place for early Christ-believers to congregate. She is also Paul’s benefactor. See more on her via my Phoebe post.

2. Priscilla (Rom 16:3–5)

Luke calls her Priscilla, but Paul calls her Prisca, the more respectful of the two variants. She was actively involved in missionary work among gentile nations. Paul met Prisca and her husband, Aquila, in Corinth, after the couple were banished (along with other Jews) from Rome by Claudius Caesar (Acts 18:1–3). Luke portrays her as a teacher; she taught and corrected Apollos (Acts 18:24–28). In Acts, the couple then moves to Ephesus to minister there. When Paul greets them in Rom 16, they had returned again to Rome after Claudius’s death. They now lead a congregation there. See more on Prisca through my Priscilla post.

3. Mary (Rom 16:6)

This Mary is not identified as the mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, or any other Mary we might know from Scripture. “Mary” is an extremely common name in the first century among Jews, and also among Romans (as “Maria”). Paul identifies her as a woman who works very much in ministry for the Romans. They apparently know her well because of her labors; Paul does not need to identify her any other way except by virtue of her works. See more on Mary via my academic article, “Greet My Jewish Friends Among You.”

4. Junia (Rom 16:7)

Junia is married to Andronicus, and Paul considers this Jewish couple to be outstanding among the apostles. This means that her authority in Christ ranks right up there with Paul’s. Paul also claims that Junia and her husband have been believers in Christ longer than he has. The couple may have been the first Jesus-believing missionaries to travel to Rome and start a ministry there. And similar to Paul, the couple experienced imprisonment. See more on Junia in my Junia post.

5. & 6. Tryphaena and Tryphosa (16:12a)

I agree with a number of scholars that these women are sisters. Some even go so far as considering them twins, but this is not clear. Since their husbands are not mentioned, they probably are single and work as a team. Their names are Greek, and Paul greets and commends them as workers in the Lord. See more on these and the women listed below via my academic study, “Beyond Prisca and Junia: The Lesser-Known Women Greeted in Rom 16:3-16.”

7. Persis (16:12b)

Paul identifies this woman as “beloved” and a hard worker in the things of the Lord. She is presumably single since her husband is not mentioned. Her name, rare in ancient Greek sources, is geographically tied to Persia.

8. Rufus’s mother (16:13)

If this is the same Rufus whom Mark mentions, then he is the son of Simeon of Cyrene, the man who carried Jesus’s cross (Mark 15:21). This would mean that Rufus’s mother is Simeon’s wife. But since Rufus is a very common name in Rome, this connection is far from certain. In any case, Paul affectionately calls this woman his metaphorical “mother.” She probably was very hospitable to Paul at an earlier time.

9. Julia (16:15a)

This woman appears to be married to a man named Philologus. Together the couple either host and/or lead a house-gathering of believers in Rome. That is why Paul says in this same verse to greet “all the saints (holy ones) who are with them.” Her name is popular in Latin, doubtless because the daughter of Caesar was so named.

10. Nereus’s sister (16:15b)

This woman appears to be a member of the congregation that meets in Julia’s home. Paul did not remember her name, and that is why he identifies her simply as “Nereus’s sister.” Our apostle provides no further description of her. We only know that she has a brother, she is probably single, and she is a believer in Jesus as a congregation member. For this woman and all the lesser-known women on this list, again, see my academic study, “The Lesser-Known Woman in Romans 16.”

Take-Homes on Paul and the Women in Romans 16

The women Paul relays greetings to in Romans 16 demonstrate the important roles they played in ministry both in earliest Christian circles and in relation to Paul. In terms of their work, Paul commends them more than he does the men on this list. Based on this passage, we also notice some of the diverse ministries they performed—everything from being hospitable (Rufus’s mother) to being an apostle (Junia).