(Στάχυς, a Greek name)
Stachys is saluted by St. Paul in Romans 16:9 and described as ‘my beloved’ (τὸν ἀγαπητόν μου). The only other persons so described in these salutations are Epaenetus (Romans 16:5) and Ampliatus (Romans 16:8). A woman, Persis (q.v. [Note: .v. quod vide, which see.] ), is saluted, perhaps with intentional delicacy, as ‘the beloved’ (Romans 16:12). The term may indicate a personal convert of the Apostle or one closely associated with his work. Nothing further is known of Stachys. We shall suppose him to have been a Roman or Ephesian Christian, according to our view of the destination of Romans 16. The name is comparatively rare, but occurs in inscriptions of the Imperial household (J. B. Lightfoot, Philippians4, 1878, p. 174).
T. B. Allworthy.