Phebe Our Sister

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The final chapter in Romans (chapter 16) is a letter of commendation for a sister named “Phebe,” coupled with salutations to various brethren in Rome. It includes a warning to withdraw from divisive persons who might mislead them, and closes with a doxology that links the two parts of Paul’s ministry together as being the means of establishing the saints in all the truth of God.
In verses 1-2 Paul writes, “I commend to you Phebe, our sister, who is minister of the assembly which is in Cenchrea” (JND). This letter of commendation formally introduced Phebe to the assembly in Rome. She was travelling from Cenchrea (the port of Corinth, two miles away) to Rome for some personal “matter,” and was probably the carrier of the epistle.
The use of such letters was common practice among brethren in the early church (Acts 18:2727And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: (Acts 18:27); 2 Cor. 3:11Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? (2 Corinthians 3:1)). The existence of them shows the care they had in inter-assembly communion. There were dangers that threatened the fellowship of the saints, and they needed to be careful whom they received, both on a personal level (1 Tim. 5:2222Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22)), and collectively as assemblies (Acts 9:26-2826And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. (Acts 9:26‑28)). False brethren were coming into the Christian profession with bad doctrine and unholy practices, and they were corrupting the saints (2 Cor. 11:12-1512But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:12‑15); Gal. 5:7-127Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. 9A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. 10I have confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. 11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12I would they were even cut off which trouble you. (Galatians 5:7‑12); 2 Pet. 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1); 1 John 4:1-61Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1‑6); Jude 44For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 4)). In view of this danger, the fellowship of the saints was not open, nor was it closed, but it was guarded. Such care should still be used among Christian assemblies that seek to be Scripturally gathered. In fact, since the corruption in the Christian profession is greater today than ever before, this care is needed more than ever. If a person in fellowship at the Lord’s table goes to an assembly where he or she is known, a letter is nice to have, but not necessary (2 Cor. 3:1-31Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:1‑3)). But if a person is visiting an assembly where he or she is not known, a letter of commendation should be used.
A Minister of the Assembly
We might wonder what this sister was doing functioning as a “minister of the assembly” in Cenchrea, when Scripture teaches that sisters are not to minister publicly from the Word of God and teach in the assembly (1 Cor. 14:34-3534Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34‑35); 1 Tim. 2:11-1211Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. (1 Timothy 2:11‑12)). However, this question reflects a common misunderstanding. The problem is that the inquirer is trying to understand the passage by using the conventional (commonly accepted) meanings that men have attached to Biblical terms. Sad to say, Christendom has attached unscriptural meanings to many Scriptural terms, and these ideas have been popularized and accepted by the masses. But this has led to much confusion. Having our minds colored by these unscriptural thoughts makes it difficult to learn the true meaning of a passage.
In the example before us, it is a mistake to think that a “minister” is a clergyman (a so-called pastor who leads a congregation of Christians). Within the meaning of Scripture, a minister is a person (male or female) who carries out a service for the Lord in either spiritual (Acts 6:44But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4); 1 Peter 4:1111If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)) or temporal things (Matt. 10:41-4241He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. (Matthew 10:41‑42); Acts 6:2-3; 13:5; 19:222Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. (Acts 6:2‑3)
5And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. (Acts 13:5)
22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. (Acts 19:22); 1 Tim. 3:1010And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. (1 Timothy 3:10)). Since a sister, according to the order in Scripture, is not to minister from the Word of God publicly in the assembly, Phebe must have ministered to the assembly in temporal things. Another states in his translation footnote that the word can be translated “deaconess,” which is a servant who serves in temporal things. She may have swept the floor of the meeting room where the saints met in Cenchrea, or something like that. She would not have been in the official office of a deacon because that was to be filled by men (1 Tim. 3:8-138Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; 9Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. 10And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 11Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. 12Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 13For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:8‑13)). Since Paul states that she was “a helper of many,” she may have had the gift of “helps” (1 Cor. 12:2828And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)).
S. B. Anstey