Seeds of Promise Series by Shenica Graham

Women of The Bible

Phoebe: A Deaconess

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Devotional Reading: Romans 16:1

Phoebe is mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the book of Romans, 16:1. Her name means, “deacon.”

Phoebe may have been responsible for delivering Paul’s epistle to the Roman Christian church. She may also have served Paul as his patroness, or assistant in gathering support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an Paul may have required for his missionary work.

Phoebe ministered in the church of Cenchreae. At that time, it appears that Paul may not have restricted the office of deacon to men.

From Wikipedia

“When describing the qualities that the office holders called “deacons” must possess, Paul, wrote in I Timothy 3:11 that the gunaikas (Greek for women) “are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.” Combined with the fact that Paul called Phoebe a diakonos (servant) in the church, Paul’s instruction to the “women” in I Timothy may indicate women deacons. Phoebe has also been described as “the first visiting nurse.

Phoebe must have been trustworthy and of excellent moral character since she held the office of a deacon. It required “holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience (I Timothy 3:9). Interestingly, she is the only person – male or female, named in the Bible who is directly called a “deacon.” The office and work of a deacon is defined in I Timothy 3:8-13.

“8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Sources:

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. “Deacon.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deacon 21 Nov. 2012

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. “Phoebe (Bible).” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebe_(Bible) 21 Nov. 2012