Phoebe (biblical figure)
| Saint Phoebe | |
|---|---|
| Deaconess | |
| Born | 1st Century |
| Died | 1st Century |
| Venerated in |
Roman Catholic Church Anglican Communion Eastern Orthodox Church Oriental Orthodox Church Lutheran Church |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Feast | September 3 - Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Church October 25 - Lutheran Church |
Phoebe (Koine Greek Φοίβη) was a first-century Christian woman 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. In writing to the church that almost surely met in her home, Paul refers to her both as a deacon (Gk. diakonon) and as a helper or patron of many (Gk. 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.
Phoebe's exceptional character, noted by her status as a deacon and prostatis—one who should be esteemed highly "because of their work"— may be the reason Paul sent her to Rome where she delivered the letter to Rome. By referring to Phoebe as a prostatis, Paul solicits the attention and respect of the leaders in Rome's church, which also included other women, namely Prisca/(Priscilla), Mary, Junia, and Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis .
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.
The Source New Testament attempts to offer a literal translation from the Ancient Greek of the Romans passage:
I recommend to you Phoebe our fellow believer, who is a minister of the assembly in Cenchrea, so that you will admit her into your company, the Lord's company, in a manner worthy of the people devoted to God, and stand by her in whatever matters she needs you to help in. For indeed she became a presiding officer over many, and over me also!
The term "presiding officer" and "minister" are highly debated, since they can refer to being a patron and to being a servant, thus not indicating a spiritual leadership role, but rather providing financial or social aid to the church.
Apostle Paul used the Greek diakonos (διάκονος) to designate Phoebe as a deacon. A transliteration of the original Greek, it is the same word as used elsewhere by Paul to refer to deacons. The word deacon in Paul's writings sometimes refers to a Christian designated to serve with the overseers of the church, while it more often refers to "servants" in a general sense. In the letter to the Romans, apart from the debated case of Phoebe, it always refers to "servants" in the generic sense, as opposed to a church office.
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