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Phoebe was a wealthy woman who offered Paul hospitality
in her home at Cenchreae, a prosperous port on the eastern side of
Corinth. When Paul traveled to preach
the Word in Ephesus, Phoebe funded his travel and remained behind serving as
deacon of the Corinthian church in Cenchreae.
Paul
wrote, “I commend to you our sister
Phoebe, deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the
Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require
from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.” (Romans
6:1-2)
The
quote from Romans 16:1-2 is the earliest mention of a deacon in the Christian
church. Paul valued Phoebe highly and
entrusted her with leading the Corinthians at Cenchreae. He refers to her as his benefactor
(prostatis) and the benefactor of many.
Prostatis or its verb form proistēmi implies leadership.
Paul
wrote that deacons (female as well as male) were expected to be “serious, not
slanderers, but temperate and faithful in all things.” (1 Timothy 3:11). Paul refers to male and female ministers in
the early church who served as overseers, elders and pastors for new converts in
his absence. The term implies a person
entrusted with spiritual leadership of the community.
The
Greek word diakonos (διάκονος) used in this letter is the same word Paul uses
elsewhere to refer to those who served to build up and provide financial
support for other churches. Phoebe served the church at Cenchreae in the same
capacity as Apollos, Tychicus, Epaphras, Archippus, and Onesimus. Paul described his own ministry using the
same term in 1 Cor 3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6, 6:4, 11:23; Eph 3:7; Col 1:23, 25.
A
fourth century stele on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem bears an inscription
commemorating another female deacon Sophia, as the second Phoebe (hē diakonos,
hē deutera Phoibē). The date and manner
of Phoebe's death is unknown.
