Page 24 - January 2025 - Truth & Tidings

lthough Phoebe’s name occurs and useful members of the family of God
only once in Scripture, and all and the body of Christ.
Awe know of her is contained in
just two verses (Rom 16:1-2), there is a Phoebe, a Servant (diakonos)
richness in her commendation worthy of of the Church
more than a cursory glance. Indeed, her It is widely believed that Paul entrusted
character was true to her name (meaning the carrying of the letter to the Romans to
“moon”), radiating purely and brightly Phoebe. Delivering such a vital document
and reflecting the glory of her Lord and was no small responsibility and not one
Saviour. that would have been given lightly! Al-
Phoebe was associated with the church most certainly Phoebe had demonstrated
at Cenchreae, which was about seven her reliability in earlier acts of service.
miles from Corinth and important as Concerning the various Greek syn-
the city’s eastern seaport. Paul probably onyms which are translated as servant or
passed through the port on his various minister in English, Vine says, “Speaking
travels and likely became well acquainted broadly, diakonos views a servant in rela-
with Phoebe during his time in Corinth. tion to his work.” Paul elsewhere com-
Phoebe, Our Sister mends Epaphras (Col 1:7) and Tychicus
Although there is nothing explicitly (Eph 6:21; Col 4:7) as “faithful” ministers/
servants and exhorts Timothy to be a
said about her marital status, the fact that “good” servant (1Ti 4:6). He describes
Phoebe is not mentioned along with a himself and Apollos as “servants through
husband (as Priscilla is in the succeeding whom you believed, as the Lord assigned
verses) may hint that she was not married. to each” (1Co 3:5).
1
Or, perhaps she was widowed, abandoned There is spiritual work for every brother
(1Co 7:15), or married to an unbelieving and sister to do for the extension of God’s
husband. Whatever the case, Paul’s ref- kingdom, some of which our sisters
erence to her as “our sister” speaks not are uniquely enabled to do. Paul writes
only to the wonderful truth of the familial about older women teaching what is
relationship of every believer in the family good in order to encourage the younger
of God, but also to the esteem in which he women in their family lives (Titus 2:3-5),
held her for her life and testimony at Cen-
chreae and beyond. We should be careful 1 Bible quotations in this article are from the
to respect all our sisters as equal, valued ESV.

24 TRUTH kTidings January 2025