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
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also 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).
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, the laborers in the Lord. Greet Persis, the dear [friend] who {has worked hard} in the Lord.
I appeal to Euodia and I appeal to Syntyche {to be in agreement} in the Lord. Yes, I ask also you, true yokefellow, help them, who struggled along with me in the gospel with both Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names [are] in the book of life.
Older women likewise [are to be] reverent in [their] behavior, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, in order that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands [and 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.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,
and some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod's household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions.
and Joanna the wife of Chuza (Herod's household manager), and Susanna, and many others who were helping to support them from their possessions.
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things].
The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things]. Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing [their] children and their own households well.
Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing [their] children and their own households well.
Let a widow be put on the list [if she] is not less than sixty years [old], the wife of one husband,
Let a widow be put on the list [if she] is not less than sixty years [old], the wife of one husband, being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.
being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work. But refuse younger widows, for whenever their physical desires lead them away from Christ, they want to marry,
But refuse younger widows, for whenever their physical desires lead them away from Christ, they want 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
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea, in order that you may welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever task she may have need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, even me myself.
Now I urge you, brothers--you know about the household of Stephanas, that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the ministry for the saints--
The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, 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
See Verses Found in Dictionary
Now I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is also a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, the laborers in the Lord. Greet Persis, the dear [friend] who {has worked hard} in the Lord.
The wives likewise [must be] dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in all [things].
Honor widows [who are] truly widows. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must learn to show profound respect for their own household first, and to pay back recompense to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. read more. But the widow [who is one] truly, and is left alone, has put her hope in God and continues in her petitions and prayers night and day. But the one who lives for sensual pleasure is dead [even though she] lives. And command these [things], in order that they may be irreproachable. But if someone does not provide for his own [relatives], and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be put on the list [if she] is not less than sixty years [old], the wife of one husband, being well-attested by good works, if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality, if she has washed the feet of the saints, if she has helped those who are oppressed, if she has devoted herself to every good work.
Older women likewise [are to be] reverent in [their] behavior, not slanderous, not enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,