Journal: Priscilla Papers
Volume: PP 07:1 (Winter 1993)
Article: Our Sister, Phoebe
Author: Martha Linda Marion Montgomery

PP 7:1 (Winter 1993) p. 3

Our Sister, Phoebe

Linda Montgomery

Linda Marion Montgomery has extensive experience in Christian education. Her MTS thesis was on 14th-century mystics, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe.

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deaconess (diakonos) of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord as befits the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a helper (prostatis) of many and of myself as well (Romans 16:1,2 RSV).

I was having a discussion the other evening with a family in our church about the subject of women deacons. I said, “Well, Phoebe, of course, was a deacon.”

Someone said, “Really? Are you sure? Not everyone believes that she was.”

“She was a deacon,” I said. It’s in Romans 16.”

Diakonos means “servant.” Phoebe was a prominent woman who distinguished herself by the services she rendered to her church and to Paul himself.

The word prostatis is usually translator “helper” or “patroness” for Phoebe. Yet in the literature of the time it had the connotation of “leading officer,” “president,” “governor,” or “superintendent.”

In Romans 16:1, the Greek word diakonos is translated, “deaconess” in the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, “servant” in the New International Version, “servant” in the King James Version, and “dear Christian woman” in the Living Bible Paraphrased.

The very same word, diakonos is translated “deacon” in Philippians 1:1, I Timothy 3:8, and I Timothy 3:12, in each reference, in all four versions of the Bible cited above. These verses refer to church leadershi p. Note that I Timothy 3:12 could have buen a warning against polygamy. In I Timothy 3:11, “the women likewise” may mean either “wives of deacons” or “women deacons.”

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons (diakonos).” (Phil. 1:1 RSV)

“Deacons (diakonos) likewise must be serious, not double-tongued...” (I Tim. 3:8 RSV)

“Let deacons (diakonos) be the husband of one wife...” (I Tim. 3:12 RSV)

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