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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AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister 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).
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AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea,
Salute Prisca [Priscilla] and Aquila my co-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 Euodias and I beseech Syntyche to have the same mind in the Lord. Yes, I beseech you also, faithful yoke-fellow, help those women who strove in the gospel with me, with Clement and the rest of my co-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
that the aged women, in like manner, be of behavior becoming holiness, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good, that they may instruct the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of 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.
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and certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom went out seven demons,
and certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, from whom went out seven demons, and Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susannah, and many others, who served them with their property.
and Joanna the wife of Chusa, Herod's steward, and Susannah, and many others, who served them with their property.
AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea,
AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea,
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things.
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses.
Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling well their children and their own houses.
Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband,
Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband, well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work.
well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work. But reject the younger widows; for when they fall into pleasure to the neglect of Christ, they wish to marry,
But reject the younger widows; for when they fall into pleasure to the neglect of 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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AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea, that you receive her in the Lord worthily of the saints, and assist her in any thing in which she may have need of you; for she has been an assistant of many, and of myself also.
And I exhort you, brothers, know the family of Stephanas, for it is a first fruit of Achaia, and they devoted themselves to serving the saints;
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, 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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AND I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a minister of the church in Cenchrea,
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labored in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
The women in like manner must be grave, not slanderers, circumspect, faithful in all things.
Support the widows who are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or relatives, let them learn first to support their family and to make returns to their parents, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. read more. But one that is a widow indeed and alone hopes in God, and continues in petitions and prayers night and day; but a woman that lives voluptuously is dead while she lives. And command these things, that they be blameless. And if any one provides not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let not a widow be enrolled under sixty years of age, a wife of one husband, well reputed for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has exercised hospitality, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the distressed, if she has pursued every good work.
that the aged women, in like manner, be of behavior becoming holiness, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of what is good,