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 unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which 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).
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I commend unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which is in Cenchrea,
Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-laborers in Christ Jesus;
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are laboring in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
I exhort, Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to think the same thing in the Lord. Yea, I also entreat thee, noble yoke-fellow, assist those women, whosoever labored with me in the gospel, both along with Clement, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
likewise that the elderly women be reverent in demeanor, not tattlers, not given to much wine, teachers of that which is good; in order that they instruct the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,
knowing that such an one is turned away, and is sinning, 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.
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And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuzas the steward of Herod, and Susanna, and many other women, who were accustomed to minister unto Him from those things belonging to them.
and Joanna the wife of Chuzas the steward of Herod, and Susanna, and many other women, who were accustomed to minister unto Him from those things belonging to them.
I commend unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which is in Cenchrea,
I commend unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which is in Cenchrea,
Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things.
Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses beautifully.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses beautifully.
Let a widow not be taken into account under three score years, the wife of one husband,
Let a widow not be taken into account under three score years, the wife of one husband, being witness in beautiful works; if she has brought up children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has succored those in tribulation, if she has followed in every good work.
being witness in beautiful works; if she has brought up children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has succored those in tribulation, if she has followed in every good work. But reject the younger widows: for when they may wax wanton against Christ, they wish to marry;
But reject the younger widows: for when they may wax wanton against Christ, they wish 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 unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which is in Cenchrea, in order that you may receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye may assist her in whatsoever matters she may need you: for she has been a helper of many, and myself.
But I exhort you, brethren; (know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruit of Achaia, and they have set themselves to minister unto the saints),
Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, 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 unto you our sister Phoebe, being a minister of the church which is in Cenchrea,
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who are laboring in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.
Likewise let their wives be grave, not tattlers, modest, faithful in all things.
Honor widows who are truly widows. But if any widow has children, or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety to their own house, and to give benefactions to their ancestors: for this is acceptable in the sight of God. read more. She who is truly a widow, and left alone, hopes in God, and abides in prayers and supplication night and day; but she who is wanton is dead though living. Indeed command these things, in order that they may be blameless. But if any one provides not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Let a widow not be taken into account under three score years, the wife of one husband, being witness in beautiful works; if she has brought up children, if she has entertained strangers, if she has washed the feet of saints, if she has succored those in tribulation, if she has followed in every good work.
likewise that the elderly women be reverent in demeanor, not tattlers, not given to much wine, teachers of that which is good;