"Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored much in the Lord." Rom. 16:12.
See what lovely discrimination is here! Why does he not class all three together? The reason is plain, because two had only labored, while the third had labored much. Each one gets his or her place, according to what they were, and according to what they had done. Nor would Tryphena and Tryphosa have had any cause for envy and jealousy against Persis because she was characterized as "beloved," while they were not, or because the word "much" was added to her labors and withheld from theirs. Ah! no; envy and jealousy are the pernicious fruit of a miserable self-occupation. They can find no part in a heart wholly devoted to Christ and His glorious interests.