“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.  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” (Rom 16:1).

This is not been a favorite verse of many.  In fact a simple word in verse 1 has caused endless discussion.  Because Paul calls her “deaconess,” a leadership term for servant of the church.  We also see this in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 as an official role of the church.

“In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 3:8-13).

In 1 Timothy, it is clearly about church leaders.  And while women are mentioned as ones who must have good character, the phrase that a deacon must be “faithful to his wife” is interpreted as women cannot be deacons or church leaders.  So when we read that Phoebe is a deacon, it throws a fly in the ointment.  How can this be?

Some try to interpret it that it means she was not a church leader servant but a servant in general.  The kind that makes sure that the men have all the logistics taken care of such as housing and food so that they can do the main work.

But is this the case here?

1) Was she bringing the letter to the Romans?

^“I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people”

This could mean a couple of different things.  Some say this means she was the trusted member of the body of Christ to bring the letter of Romans to the people.  Perhaps.  We don’t know for sure.

2) “give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me”

She was a prosatis.  It literally means “to stand before.”

• “for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me” (NIV)
• “for she has been
• “she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also” (NKJV)
• “for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well” (ESV)

It was used in several different ways.

A) One who stands in front to lead others
B) A person of wealth who gives generously to others
C) One who guards and defends

Is this statement, then, a request to bless her financially?  This would make sense as she was the one who would be bringing the letter to them.  It means she was a full-time workers.

Others take it to say that the word “prostasis” here means benefactor, as in a a wealthy person who gives money to the work of others.  This also could be as it it is a nuance of the word.

It is actually more likely this second interpretation, not because she is mentioned as a deaconess, but because Paul, as a special apostle, was blessed by her.  If she was his leader, we would expect to hear and read more.  But if she was a financial backer who also worked in the Lord, this would make more sense.

It doesn’t mean women can’t be deaconesses.  Clearly she was as this was the word Paul used.  And she was not just a deaconess in general but of the “church of Cenchrea.”  There’s more to this which we will address when we get to 1 Timothy 3.

But for now, we can see she was

• A vital part of the kingdom work
• She was a deeply trusted member of the body of Christ
• She was very generous at the very least
• She worked to advance the kingdom
• She had a work that Paul asked for them to help her to get what she needed