Phoebe the Deacon

This morning I am reading from Paul's letter to the Romans 16:1-4 NIV:

[1] "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. [2] I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.

[3] Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. [4] They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."

I am just interested in Paul's simple commendation of a few women of the faith. We can take some meaning from the fact that this is clearly the greetings section and Paul starts with Phoebe. Several of the commentary authors believe that she carried this letter and that us why she is listed first. It is clear that she was traveling to Rome and Paul is giving her his personal recommendation.

Several of the other translations would change the word deacon to servant because it is less controversial, but that is clearly what Paul wrote. This is the same term he used in his first letter to Timothy 3:8. The word has several potential meanings, but within the church, the role of deacon was pretty firmly established. I would find it hard to believe that Paul would use the same word and not mean the same thing in two different letters, spanned by a few years. His letter to the Romans was written in 57AD, either Titus or 1 Timothy were written in 62-63AD.

Although this is the first time the word deacon is used in the letter to the Romans, the idea and role dates back to the church in Jerusalem much earlier, as recorded in the book of Acts, chapter 6. It was here that we first see deacons selected and ordained for active ministry. The description of their roles were waiting on tables and distributing food, but look at the character requirements list in verses Acts 6:3-4: "Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them [4] and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” In other words, they were looking for much more than table waiters. In the next section of that same chapter in Acts, we hear about Stephen doing miraculous signs and great wonders, and he was one of the deacons they had just selected.

My point in all of this is to say that Phoebe was not just a servant of the church, but was likely one who was well respected, had been ordained to a position in the church, and had Paul the Apostle's personal recommendations and reference. She is called a Prostatis of Paul and others and that Greek word means: 1. a woman set over others 2. a female guardian, protectress, patroness, caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her resources. Some would - read a women of station and resources. Again, regardless of which definition, we find ourselves faced with the recognition of some authority, definite significance and a ministry to many including Paul. This is not someone of insignificance.

Secondly, Paul greets Priscilla and Aquila, and calls them his coworkers. Again, he makes no difference between Priscilla and Aquila. They are equal coworkers with him. It was Priscilla and Aquila who instructed Apollos concerning the whole Gospel, and they worked alongside Paul, and were mentioned in several letters (Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians and 2 Timothy). They were clearly heroes of the early church. They had a church that met in their house, ministered together as a husband and wife and were the companions of Paul.

In summary, we are so often encouraged to embrace a male-centric ministry model, and Paul here demonstrates that is hardly his understanding. He does speak clearly about his take on men's and women's roles in other letters (1 Cor., 1 Tim), and specifically speaks about their teaching or authority in the church, but he certainly makes room for full and active ministry, as well as models that support individual women in ministry and equally yoked husbands and wives.

Let us open our minds and hearts to the significance of all our brothers and sisters in the church, and not disqualify someone due to their gender or situation in life (married or single).