| 12. Linguistic Exegesis The verse consists of two parallel imperative clauses, each headed by aspasasthe {ἀσπάσασθε | aspásasthe} ‘greet’, creating a rhythmic pattern of commendation. In the first clause, the direct objects are the coordinated proper nouns Tryphainan {Τρύφαιναν | Trýphainan} and Tryphōsan {Τρυφῶσαν | Tryphôsan}. These are followed by the article tas {τὰς | tàs} plus the aorist participle kopiōsas {κοπιώσας | kopiṓsas}, forming an adjectival participial phrase ‘the ones who have labored’, which characterizes both women collectively. The prepositional phrase en kuriō {ἐν κυρίῳ | en kyríō} functions as a dative of sphere, indicating that their toil takes place within the realm of commitment to the Lord.
The second clause repeats aspasasthe with a new object, Persida {Περσίδα | Persída}, further defined by the attributive adjective agapētēn {ἀγαπητὴν | agapētḕn} ‘beloved’ in the article–adjective sequence tēn agapētēn {τὴν ἀγαπητὴν | tḕn agapētḕn}. The qualitative relative pronoun hētis {ἥτις | hḗtis} introduces a relative clause that highlights her exemplary status: hētis polla ekopiasen {ἥτις πολλὰ ἐκοπίασεν | hḗtis pollà ekopíasen}, literally ‘who labored much (things)’, an idiom rendered with an adverbial sense ‘has labored much’. The repetition of en kuriō {ἐν κυρίῳ | en kyríō} ties both greetings together thematically, underscoring that the women’s toil is defined by their relationship to the Lord.
In translation, the participial phrase with tas is expressed as “those who have labored” to make its adjectival force explicit. The quantitative polla is handled by “much” or “very hard” to convey intensity without over-interpretation. The parallel imperative structure is preserved with “Greet…” / “Send greetings…” and “Also greet…”, while the prepositional phrase en kuriō is variously rendered as “in the Lord” and “for/serving the Lord” to reflect both sphere and purpose nuances in contemporary English. |