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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is 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).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is in Cenchrea,
Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-laborers in Christ Jesus;
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
I beseech Euodia, and I beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. Now I beseech you also, true yoke-fellow, to assist those women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and my other fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
that the aged women likewise be, in deportment, as it becomes holy women, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of good things, That they may teach the young women to be sober-minded, to love their husbands, to love their children,
knowing that such a one is perverted, and sins, being self-condemned.
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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and also certain women that had been cured of evil spirits and diseases; Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven demons,
and also certain women that had been cured of evil spirits and diseases; Mary, called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven demons, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him from their means.
and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him from their means.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is in Cenchrea,
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is in Cenchrea,
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, faithful in all things.
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, 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, if she is not under sixty years, having been the wife of one man,
Let a widow be put on the list, if she is not under sixty years, having been the wife of one man, having a good reputation for good works; if she has borne children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
having a good reputation for good works; if she has borne children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows reject: for when they become wanton against the Christ, they desire to marry,
But the younger widows reject: for when they become wanton against the 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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is in Cenchrea, that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of saints, and that you aid her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she has aided many, and myself also.
I beseech you, brethren, (you know the house of Stephanas, that they are the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, 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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church that is in Cenchrea,
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
Their wives likewise must be grave, not slanderers, watchful, faithful in all things.
Honor widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or grand-children, let them learn first to be dutiful to their own family, and to requite their parents; for that is good and acceptable in the sight of God. read more. But she that is a widow indeed, and left alone, trusts in God, and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that lives voluptuously, is dead while she lives. These things also give in charge, that they may be blameless. And if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house hold, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list, if she is not under sixty years, having been the wife of one man, having a good reputation for good works; if she has borne children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the saints feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.
that the aged women likewise be, in deportment, as it becomes holy women, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of good things,