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 recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,
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 recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,
salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-labourers in the gospel of Christ Jesus:
salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour for the Lord. salute my dear Persis, who laboured much in the gospel.
I conjure Euodias, and I conjure Syntyche to be perfectly united in the Lord. yea, I intreat thee too, my faithful collegue, to assist them both, for they assisted me in the gospel, as well as Clement, and my other collegues, whose names are in the book of life.
in charity, in patience: the aged women likewise, to behave with sanctity of manners, not false accusers, not given to tipling, but to lectures on virtue, that they may teach the young women prudence, to love their husbands,
it being plain that such a person is perverted, and knows in his own conscience that his tenets are false.
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 several women, who had been delivered from evil spirits and cured of their diseases: particularly Mary Magdalene, who had been dispossess'd of seven demons:
and several women, who had been delivered from evil spirits and cured of their diseases: particularly Mary Magdalene, who had been dispossess'd of seven demons: Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's high-steward: Susanna, and several others, who assisted him with their fortunes.
Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's high-steward: Susanna, and several others, who assisted him with their fortunes.
I recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,
I recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,
their wives must be likewise grave, free from scandal, sober, and always faithful.
their wives must be likewise grave, free from scandal, sober, and always faithful. a deacon must have but one wife, and govern his children, and the rest of the family in a proper manner.
a deacon must have but one wife, and govern his children, and the rest of the family in a proper manner.
Let none be put upon the list of widows, but such as are at least threescore years of age, and have been married but once:
Let none be put upon the list of widows, but such as are at least threescore years of age, and have been married but once: such as have been recommended by their good actions, by the education of their children, by their hospitality, by their officiousness to the faithful, by relieving the afflicted, and by the practice of every virtue.
such as have been recommended by their good actions, by the education of their children, by their hospitality, by their officiousness to the faithful, by relieving the afflicted, and by the practice of every virtue. as for young widows, don't admit them: for being impatient of religious restraint, they will be marry'd:
as for young widows, don't admit them: for being impatient of religious restraint, they will be marry'd:
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 recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake, as becometh christians, and assist her in every thing her business requires: for she hath assisted many besides my self.
You know brethren, that the family of Stephanas were the first converts of Achaia, and have made it their business to be serviceable to christian converts: to such,
their wives must be likewise grave, free from scandal, sober, and always faithful.
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 recommend to you Phebe our sister, who is a deaconess of the church at Kenchrea; receive her for Christ's sake,
salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour for the Lord. salute my dear Persis, who laboured much in the gospel.
their wives must be likewise grave, free from scandal, sober, and always faithful.
show regard to widows that are really such. if a widow has children or grand-children, let them above all things instruct their own family to be religious, and let them be grateful to their parents, for this is acceptable to God. read more. as for the widow, who is really such, and without any assistance, let her place all her hopes in God, and be assiduous in supplication and prayer. the widow of pleasure is dead tho' she lives. these things recommend to them, that they may be without reproach. he that takes no care of his relations, especially those of his own family, has renounc'd the faith and is worse than an infidel. Let none be put upon the list of widows, but such as are at least threescore years of age, and have been married but once: such as have been recommended by their good actions, by the education of their children, by their hospitality, by their officiousness to the faithful, by relieving the afflicted, and by the practice of every virtue.
in charity, in patience: the aged women likewise, to behave with sanctity of manners, not false accusers, not given to tipling,