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 deaconess of the church at Cenchreae;
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 deaconess of the church at Cenchreae;
Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellowlaborers in Christ Jesus;
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord; yea, I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, give them aid; since they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life.
that aged women likewise be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good, that they may teach 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 certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons,
and certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herods steward, and Susanna, and many others, who afforded them aid from their substance.
and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herods steward, and Susanna, and many others, who afforded them aid from their substance.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae;
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Cenchreae;
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let a widow be put on the list when not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband,
Let a widow be put on the list when not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband, well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. But younger widows refuse; for when they become wanton against Christ, they desire to marry;
But younger widows refuse; for when they become wanton 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 deaconess of the church at Cenchreae; that ye may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy, and assist her in whatever business she may need your aid; for she hath been a helper of many, and of myself also.
And I exhort you, brethren,ye know the family of Stephanas, that they are the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the holy,
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, 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 deaconess of the church at Cenchreae;
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Honor as widows those that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety to their own family, and to requite their parents; for this is acceptable before God. read more. Now she that is a widow indeed, and left alone, hath set her hope on God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day; but she that giveth herself up to pleasure is dead while she liveth. These things also enjoin, that they may be blameless. But if any one provideth not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list when not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one husband, well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
that aged women likewise be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good,