Phoebe Φοίβη
Deacon of the church in Cenchreae
Biography
Phoebe was a prominent woman in the early Christian church, mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Romans (Rom.16.1-2). She was a deacon (or servant) of the church in Cenchreae, a port city near Corinth. Paul described her as a "sister" and a "patron" or "benefactor" of many, including Paul himself. This suggests that Phoebe was a woman of means who used her resources to support the ministry of the church and traveling missionaries like Paul.
It is likely that Phoebe was the one who delivered Paul's letter to the Romans, as Paul commended her to the believers in Rome and asked them to receive her in a manner worthy of the saints and to assist her in whatever she needed. This demonstrates the trust Paul had in Phoebe and her role in the early church.
As a deacon, Phoebe would have been responsible for various forms of service and ministry within the church, possibly including charitable work, hospitality, and spiritual guidance. Her example highlights the significant contributions of women in the early spread of Christianity and their active roles in the life of the church.
In Scripture
1 biblical book ; 1 with study contentRomans 2 verses
- Romans 16:1
"I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,"
Study Romans → - Romans 16:27Study Romans →
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Greek | Φοίβη | G5402 |
| (same form as previous) | Greek | Φοίβη | G5402 |
Encyclopedia Article
ISBE 1915 (Public Domain) Phoebe
(1) "Our (Christian) sister": Paul calls the believing husband and wife "the brother or the sister" (1Co 7:15), and also asks, "Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a sister?" (1Co 9:5 margin). The church was a family.
(2) The Greek word translated "servant" is diakonos. "Servant" is vague, and "deaconess" is too technical. In the later church there was an order of deaconesses for special work among women, owing to the peculiar circumstances of oriental life, but we have no reason to believe there was such an order at this early period. If Phoebe had voluntarily devoted herself "to minister unto the saints" by means of charity and hospitality, she would be called diakonos.
(3) The Greek word prostatis translated "helper" is better "patroness." The masculine is "the title of a citizen in Athens who took charge of the interests of clients and persons without civic rights" (Denney). Many of the early Christian communities had the appearance of clients under a patron, and probably the community of Cenchrea met in the house of Phoebe. She also devoted her influence and means to the assistance of "brethren" landing at that port. Paul was among those whom she benefited. Gifford thinks some special occasion is meant, and that Paul refers to this in Ac 18:18. The vow "seems to point to a deliverance from danger or sickness" in which Phoebe may have attended on him.
It is generally assumed that this letter was taken to Rome by Phoebe, these verses introducing her to the Christian community. In commending her, Paul asks that the Roman Christians "receive her in the Lord," i.e. give her a Christian welcome, and that they "assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need" of them (Ro 16:1,2).
S. F. Hunter
fe-ni'-se (Phoinix).
See PHOENIX.
fe-nish'-i-a, fe-nish'-anz: