Women of the Word: Phoebe

Scripture Reference:
Romans 16:1-2 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church of Cencrhrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.

Name Meaning:
Radiant

Introduction:
Can women be leaders? Can women hold an office in church? This is a highly debated topic amongst Christians. Many women say yes and cite examples such as Phoebe. Others claim no and argue against these examples, claiming it is all misinterpretation. You make the call yourself. The following is not meant to prove or disprove, but is simply an exploration of who Phoebe was, and the impact she had on the early church as a whole. There is no disputing she was an woman of influence, whether a leader or not.

Word Study
“servant” – Greek diakonos, or the female form of the word deacon. In Scripture the Greek word is used many other times, in reference to men. It is always translated as “deacon” when referring to a man, but when used to refer to Phoebe the translators chose to use the translation of “servant” instead. Why, if the word is exactly the same?

Although this word is literally translated as “servant” it has a wide range of meaning in NT times and beyond. Here are a few references to the use in other forms.

1.   In Rom 16.1-2, Phoebe who is a woman, is called by the masculine form of ‘deacon’ which is strongly suggestive that it is the technical term of the office of deacon. [WS:WIC:88f]
2. Clement of Alexandria wrote about women deacons (Misc., 3.6.53)
3. The Council of Chalcedon specified that “henceforth a deaconess must be at least forty and unmarried” (ROC:108)
4. Pliny the Younger, in his correspondence to Trajan, reported that he had tortured two young Christian women “who were called deacons” (Epistle 10.96.8).
5. Origen argued on the basis of Rom 16 that the EXISTING institution of women deacons should be continued. (commentary on Romans).

“helper” (succourer in other versions) – Greek prostatis, meaning “one who stands by in case of need.” It is a word used of trainers who dedicated themselves to assisting an athlete competing for a prize. The choice of wording here by Paul shows that Phoebe was a great support to him, as a major person of influence, not just a helper as we define helper today.

Traditions/Rumors
It is believed by many that Phoebe was the courier for the letter from Paul to the Romans. The text suggestions that she is traveling to Rome on some church mission and tradition has it that she was the person who delivered his letter to the Roman church.

Paul wrote his letter to the Romans while he was in Corinth. Cenchrea, which is a port of Corinth. There was a church in Cenchrea, of which Phoebe was a member and worker.

Lesson:
Little more is known of this woman of faith. The only mention of Phoebe is in the two short verses in the sixteenth chapter of Romans.

All we know is that she was a devout, trustworthy Christian whom Paul trusted and respected deeply. Because we see her in only two verses, many argue her role and influence in the church.

But we DO see her in two verses, and those two verses speak volumes about her worth through the word choice of Paul. Readers can see her role, her impact on Paul, and the importance she played in the early church’s development and growth as she carried letters and was “endorsed” by Paul himself.

She not only had an important role in her church as a servant/deaconess, but she had been commissioned by her church to go on a mission to the church in Rome, hence Paul asking them to assist her in whatever business she had need of.

While there are many who argue whether Phoebe was truly an officer in her church or whether she was simply another woman who had a great influence on the early development of the church. She was trusted to carry letters, she was asked by her church to attend to business, and she was a person Paul spoke highly of and endorsed when he wrote his letters. There is no arguing her worth as a woman of God, and as an influence.

Her role in the church can be assumed to be one common of female deaconesses later (not all churches adopted the role of a deaconess, but many did). She would have been a teacher of women and children, would have helped the poor, and would have assisted wherever needed. Many women do these things in their churches today, whether in an official position or voluntarily offering up their time to serve. Phoebe was no different.

What can we learn from Phoebe? Regardless of what people say God can and will use all of us to do His will. We simply have to be open to Him and willing to be the vessel in which He works. We do not need a “title” or a position to serve – we can do the same work regardless of the office it might indicate. Our hearts should be devoted to Him and His work, as Phoebe’s heart was. It was her steadfast faith and champion-like stand by that impressed Paul enough to encourage others to help her in anything she might need, and even more so to entrust his letter to the Romans to her for deliverance. Take pride in who you are as a woman of God, and don’t let people hold you back because you are a woman. Serve Him with a joyful heart. You don’t need someone to say you can or cannot do something simply because women do not hold that position. God knows your heart and uses any who are willing. Be willing to be used by God and let Him pour out blessings on you and through you.