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 Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of 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 unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,
Greet Prisca and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus,
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, which women did labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
I pray Euodia, and beseech Syntyche that they be of one accord in the Lord. Yea, and I beseech thee faithful yokefellow, help the women which laboured with me in the gospel, and with Clement also, and with others, my labour fellows, whose names are in the book of life.
And the elder women likewise that they be in such raiment as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much drinking, but teachers of honest things, to make the young women soberminded, to love their husbands, to love their children,
remembering that he that is such, is perverted, and sinneth, even damned by his own judgement.
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 also certain women, which were healed of evil spirits, and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
And also certain women, which were healed of evil spirits, and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, and Joanna the wife of Chuzaa, Herod's steward; And Susanna; And many others: which ministered unto them of their substance.
and Joanna the wife of Chuzaa, Herod's steward; And Susanna; And many others: which ministered unto them of their substance.
I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,
I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,
Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and faithful in all things.
Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well, and their own households.
Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife and such as rule their children well, and their own households.
Let no widow be chosen under sixty years old, and such a one as was the wife of one man,
Let no widow be chosen under sixty years old, and such a one as was the wife of one man, and well reported of in good works: if she have nourished children, if she have been liberal to strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto all manner good works.
and well reported of in good works: if she have nourished children, if she have been liberal to strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto all manner good works. The younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton, to the dishonour of Christ, then will they marry,
The younger widows refuse. For when they have begun to wax wanton, to the dishonour of Christ, then will they 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 Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae, that ye receive her in the Lord as it becometh saints, and that ye assist her, in whatsoever business she needeth of your aid. For she hath succored many, and mine own self also.
Brethren, ye know the house of Stephanas, how that they are the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have appointed themselves to minister unto the saints:
Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and 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 Phoebe our sister, which is a minister of the congregation of Cenchreae,
Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, which women did labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
Even so must their wives be honest, not evil speakers: but sober, and faithful in all things.
Honour widows which are true widows. If any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to rule their own houses godly, and to recompense their elders. For that is good and acceptable before God. read more. She that is a very widow, and friendless, putteth her trust in God, and continueth in supplication and prayer night and day: but she that liveth in pleasure, is dead even yet alive. And these things command, that they may be without fault. If there be any that provideth not for his own, and namely for them of his household, the same denieth the faith, and is worse than an infidel. Let no widow be chosen under sixty years old, and such a one as was the wife of one man, and well reported of in good works: if she have nourished children, if she have been liberal to strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have ministered unto them which were in adversity, if she were continually given unto all manner good works.
And the elder women likewise that they be in such raiment as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much drinking, but teachers of honest things,