Stachys (Στάχυς, a Greek name)
Stachys is saluted by St. Paul in Romans 16:9 and described as ‘my beloved’ (τ ὸ ν ἀ γα π ητόν μου). The only other persons so described in these salutations are EpAEnetus (v. 5) and Ampliatus (v. 8). A woman, Persis (q.v. [Note: .v. quod vide, which see.]), is saluted, perhaps with intentional delicacy, as ‘the beloved’ (v. 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, Philippians 4, 1878, p. 174).
T. B. Allworthy.