Reference: Deaconess
American
Such women were called deaconesses as served the church in those offices in which the deacons could not with propriety engage; such as keeping the doors of that part of the church where the women sat, privately instructing those of their own sex, and visiting others imprisoned for the faith. In Ro 16:1, Phebe is said to be a "servant" of the church at Cenchrea; but in the original Greek she is called deaconess.
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I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Easton
Ro 16:1,3,12; Php 4:2-3; 1Ti 3:11; 5:9-10; Tit 2:3-4). In these passages it is evident that females were then engaged in various Christian ministrations. Pliny makes mention of them also in his letter to Trajan (A.D. 110).
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I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus,
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
I beg Euodia and Syntyche that they be of the same mind in the Lord. And I also beg you, true yoke-fellow, help those women who labored in the gospel with me and with Clement, and others of my fellow-laborers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
Let the aged women likewise be in reverent behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of good; that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
Fausets
Ro 16:1; "Phoebe, servant" (Greek text: "deaconess") of the church at Cenchrea." 1Ti 3:11; "even so (marking a transition to another class from deacons) must the women (i.e. the deaconesses) be grave," etc. Domestic duties are omitted, though specified in the case of the deacons (1Ti 3:12). The same qualifications are required in deaconesses as in deacons, with such modifications as the difference of sex suggested. Pliny in his letter to Trajan calls them "female ministers."
The earliest instance of such female ministers (though of course not then formally appointed) is in Lu 8:2-3; "Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, and many others which ministered unto Him of their substance." The social seclusion of women from men in many parts of the East would render necessary the services of women in teaching those of their own sex. See WIDOWS; an ecclesiastical order of widowhood, a female presbytery, existed from those of at least 60 years old, standing in the same relation to the deaconesses of younger age (1Ti 5:9-11) that the male presbyters did to the deacons.
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and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons,
and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities; Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to Him of their possessions.
and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to Him of their possessions.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and households well.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and households well.
Do not let a widow be enrolled having become less than sixty years old, the wife of one man,
Do not let a widow be enrolled having become less than sixty years old, the wife of one man, well reported of for good works: if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she followed after every good work.
well reported of for good works: if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she followed after every good work. But refuse younger widows, for whenever they grow lustful against Christ, they desire to marry;
But refuse younger widows, for whenever they grow lustful against Christ, they desire to marry;
Hastings
The word does not occur in English Version except as a Revised Version margin reading in Ro 16:1. In this verse Ph
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I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you receive her in the Lord, as becomes saints, and that you may assist her in whatever business she has need of you. For she has been a helper of many, and of myself also.
But I exhort you, brothers. You know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they appointed themselves to ministry to the saints.
Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Smith
Deaconess.
The word diakonos is found in
(Authorized Version "servant") associated with a female name, and this has led to the conclusion that there existed in the apostolic age, as there undoubtedly did a little later, an order of women bearing that title, and exercising in relation to their own sex functions which were analogous to those of the deacons. On this hypothesis it has been inferred that the women mentioned in
belonged to such an order. The rules given as to the conduct of women in
have in like manner been referred to them, and they have been identified even with the "widows" of
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I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
Even so their wives are to be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
Honor widows who are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to be godly to their own house, and give back to their forebears what is due them; for that is good and pleasing before God. read more. But she being really a widow, and having been left alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she who lives in self-pleasure has died while living. And command these things so that they may be blameless. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Do not let a widow be enrolled having become less than sixty years old, the wife of one man, well reported of for good works: if she brought up children, if she lodged strangers, if she washed the feet of saints, if she relieved the afflicted, if she followed after every good work.
Let the aged women likewise be in reverent behavior, not slanderers, not enslaved by much wine, teachers of good;