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Phoebe
– Deacon – Wikipedia
Phoebe (biblical figure)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Saint
Phoebe
Deaconess, Witness to the Faith
Born 1st century
Died 1st century
Venerated in Catholic
Church
Eastern Orthodox Church
Oriental Orthodox Church
Church of the East
Anglican Communion
Lutheran Church
Canonized Pre-Congregation
Feast September 3
(Catholic Church & Orthodox Churches)
October 25 (Lutheran Church)
Phoebe (Koine Greek: Φοίβη) was a first-century
Christian deacon mentioned by the Apostle Paul in his Epistle to the Romans,
verses 16:1–2. A notable woman in the church of Cenchreae,
she was trusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans.[1] Paul refers to
her both as a "deacon" (Greek diakonos) and
as a helper or patron of many (Greek prostatis). This
is the only place in the New Testament where a woman is specifically referred
to with these two distinctions. Paul introduces Phoebe as his emissary to the
church in Rome and, because they are not acquainted with her, Paul provides
them with her credentials.
Background
Paul's letter to the Romans was written in Corinth sometime
between the years 56 and 58 in order to solicit support for an anticipated
missionary journey to Spain.[2] Although he had not yet visited Rome, Paul
would have been familiar with the community and its circumstances through
Priscilla and Aquila, who were in Corinth, having previously lived in Rome.
Biblical scholars are divided as to whether Chapter 16, Paul's letter of
recommendation for Phoebe, was intended for Rome, with whose Christian
community he was not acquainted, or with the more familiar community at
Ephesus.[2]
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, 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.
— Paul[3]
The name Phoebe means "pure",
"radiant", or "bright"; and was the name of a Titan in
Greek mythology.[4]
Some scholars believe Phoebe was responsible for delivering
Paul's epistle to the Roman Christian church.[5]
Phoebe is the only woman named as deacon (which means
"servant" in Greek) in the Bible.[6]
Greek terms for her titles
diakonos
Apostle Paul used the Greek diakonos
(διάκονος) to
designate Phoebe as a deacon. "Deacon" is a transliteration of the
Greek, and in Paul's writings sometimes refers to a Christian designated to
serve as a specially-appointed "assistant" to the overseers of a
church,[7] and at others refers to "servants" in a general sense.
However, at this inaugural stage in the Church's formation, some argue, it is
premature to think of offices as being consistent or clearly defined, and
biblical scholar Rosalba Manes argues that Paul's use of the term
"deacon" suggests that, like Stephen and Philip, Phoebe's ministry
may have extended beyond charitable works to include preaching and
evangelization.[8][9]
"Likewise the women"
There is some debate over whether the women referred to in
1 Timothy 3:11 are to be considered deacons or not. When describing the
qualities that the office-holders called "deacons" must possess, Paul
wrote gunaikas hosautos,
which is translated by some as "likewise the women." The
"likewise" could indicate that female deacons are to live according
to the same standards as male deacons (see also the Apostle Paul's use of the
term "likewise" in Romans 1:27, 1 Cor. 7:3,4,22, and Titus
2:3,6).[10][11] The predominant view holds that this verse refers not to female
deacons, but instead to the wives of deacons. See, for example, the KJV
rendering: "Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober,
faithful in all things."[12]
prostatis
In classical Greek the word prostates (προστάτης)
(feminine, prostatis) was used to mean either a chief
or leader, or a guardian or protector, often in a religious context; it was
later used also to translate the Roman concept of a patron.[13] The Apostle
Paul's use indicates that its range of meanings had not changed by New
Testament times. This suggests that Phoebe was a woman of means, who, among
other things, contributed financial support to Paul's apostolate,[8] and
probably hosted the house church of Cenchreae in her
home, as well as providing shelter and hospitality to Paul when in the town.[9]
Veneration
The Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church and Episcopal
Church in the United States of America place her feast day as September 3 (the
latter designating it a Lesser Feast).[14]
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod remembers her later, on
October 25. The Calendar of Saints of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America commemorates Phoebe with Lydia of Thyatira and Dorcas on January 27,
the day after the commemoration of the early male missionaries Silas, Timothy
and Titus and two days after the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.