NT Characters: Phoebe

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.Major text: Rom 16:1-2Supporting texts: Acts 15:22-23; 30-32; Rom 12:3-8; 1 Tim 3:4; 1 Thess 5:12Rom 16:1 Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, 2 so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to [a patron of] many, including me.ObservationsPhoebe means bright—connection with Phoebus Apollo, the sun god.Cenchrea is one of Corinth's two seaports.Phoebe is the first person named in Romans 16—where Paul greets at least 9 or 10 female colleagues, besides his male coworkers.Most likely it was she who delivered the letter.See the parallel in Acts 15:22-23, 30-32 (the commendation of Judas and Silas).Romans is one of most important letters of Paul, dealing with a potentiality sensitive topic (the Jew-Gentile controversy, not unlike the racial issues of our own day).If she bore the letter to the various house churches of Rome, she may also have been the one who read the letter aloud.Even if others read Romans aloud, Phoebe would have been the one who clarified things if there were questions.Female leadership?Does this sound like too much responsibility for a first-century woman?She is called diakonos (v.1). See Phil 1:1.Diakonos = servant, minister.See Acts 6 and 1 Tim 3.She is also prostatis.In classical times, prostatis (the feminine form of the noun) = leader, chief; guardian, protector.In Roman times, the word could mean patron.This is one of the gifts mentioned in Romans 12 (see v.8). In the NT, there were women prophets, servants, teachers, leaders, etc….Forms of the word also show up in 1 Tim 3:4 and 1 Thess 5:12.Female teachers, prophets, and leaders in the Bible, Miriam (Exod 15:20; Mic 6:4), Deborah (Judg 4-5), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14-20; 2 Chron 34:11-33), Noahdiah (Neh 6:14), Isaiah's wife (Isa 8:3), Anna (Luke 2:36), Priscilla (Acts 18:24-26; Rom 16:3-5, 1 Cor 16:19), Philip's daughters (Acts 21:8-9), Phoebe (Rom 16:1-2), and Junia (Rom 16:7).ConclusionLet’s be aware of our presuppositions when it comes to leadership in the ancient church.Respect and honor Phoebe—and all who are like her!As we read the New Testament, let's try to re-imagine their world, including those occasions when fresh letters or gospels were first read aloud!