In other words, when Paul commends Phoebe to the Romans, he chooses to illuminate her specific leadership role within the Christian community in Cenchreae. He writes, вЂњPhoebeвЂ™s description as diakonos includes the qualifying phrase вЂof the congregation in Cenchreae.вЂ™ This localization of PhoebeвЂ™s position strongly suggests Paul had in mind a specific status rather than general comportment.вЂќ David Miller argues that PaulвЂ™s usage of diakonos in Romans 12 carries with it the notion of leadership. First, Paul calls her a вЂњdeacon.вЂќ The Greek word for вЂњdeaconвЂќ is diakonos, and it is elsewhere translated as вЂњservantвЂќ or вЂњminister.вЂќ In his essay вЂњWhat Can We Say About Phoebe?,вЂќ J. As one scholar has noted, вЂњPhoebe carried under the folds of her robe the whole future of Christian theology.вЂќ Digging Deeper: Phoebe as a Deacon and BenefactorД«eyond this introduction, these two verses offer some key details regarding PhoebeвЂ™s life and vocation.

Indeed, a number of theologians believe that not only was Phoebe the letter-carrier, she also likely explained the letter to its first hearers. Why would Paul feel the need to commend Phoebe to the Romans? One possible answer is that Phoebe carried the letter to Rome on PaulвЂ™s behalf. Third, the passage starts with Paul вЂњcommendingвЂќ Phoebe to the Roman Christians, the letterвЂ™s original recipients. From PaulвЂ™s words in Romans 16, we know that there was a Christian church in Cenchreae, and that Phoebe had some sort of significant role in the life of the church at Cenchreae. Next, the text tells us that PhoebeвЂ™s home base is Cenchreae, a coastal town about five miles southeast of the city of Corinth.

Sometimes Paul gets labeled as being вЂњanti-women,вЂќ but Phoebe and her sisters would surely testify otherwise. What do we know about the biblical figure of Phoebe, both from this short text and from the larger New Testament context?ДЇirst, Phoebe was part of a larger cohort of women who partnered closely with the Apostle Paul, women such as Chloe (1 Corinthians 1:11), Nympha (Colossians 4:15), Apphia (Philemon 2), Euodia and Syntyche (Philippians 4:2-3), and Junia (Romans 16:7). I ask you to receive her in the LordВ in a way worthy of his peopleВ and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.вЂќ Who Was Phoebe in the Bible? вЂњI commendВ to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. We find PhoebeвЂ™s story recounted in just two Bible verses: Romans 16:1-2 (NIV): In particular, ask God to inspire you through PhoebeвЂ™s example of leadership and generosity. Liberty and Justice Comes to AllВ Nations.As you start the study, invite the Lord to meet you, to open your heart to get to know a new Bible hero.

Angel News Headlines: Rome crumbles, Hitler loses, Woke Culture fizzles, ChristвЂ™s Followers Set the World on Fire with Love as Economies Rebound.

Holiness and the Prophetic In The NewВ Covenant.

Continue reading вЂњMarriage (for singles)вЂќ Author Danyelle Wolfe Read Posted on SeptemAugCategories Fiction - historical, supernatural, inspirational, Sound Mind Tags Alice Mathews, Andrew Bartlett, Christian Marriage, Cord of Three 3 Strands, Jimmy Evans, John Gottman, Joyce Meyers, Marg Mowczko, marriage, Romance, Writing Romance Leave a comment on Marriage (for singles) To find the person who really cares for us is a blessing, going back to the first man and woman in Eden. I emphasize their chemistry over their physicality (there is a difference). The characters are not idealized, they are flawed. The romances in my books are anything but fluffy. As one who has practiced therapy for couples and families, I create realistic love relationships. I portray love in such a way as to bring back the joy of it. Sometimes itвЂ™s central, sometimes itвЂ™s part of other aspects which are driving the story. There tends to be a romance in my stories.

Marg mowczko