Romans 16:1–2: I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.
Phoebe is the first believer mentioned in this, another catalog of the heroes of the faith. She was a Gentile, as her name indicates. As I have already stated, there were many Gentiles in the church at Rome. Many believers adopted new names at baptism, but Phoebe kept her heathen name for some reason. Phoebe was the bearer of the Epistle to the Romans. Apparently she was a very prominent woman in the church, which means she was a woman of ability. She is called a “servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.” Cenchrea is the eastern seaport of Corinth. Apparently Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans while he was at Corinth, and Phoebe, who may have been a woman of means or engaged in business, took it with her to Rome. She is called a servant of the church, which means she was a deaconess. The Greek word diakonos is the same word used for deacon. It reveals the fact that women occupied a very prominent place in the early church. 1
Application
- There is no greater compliment, than having the word servant describe who you are.
- It is wise to help those who spend a lifetime helping others. (Take the initiative.)
Prayer
Lord, make me into a servant, a helper of many.
1. McGee, J. V. (1991). Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles Romans, Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
