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 Phebe our sister, who is 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).
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I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Salute Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow-labourers in Christ Jesus:
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who hath laboured much in the Lord.
I beseech Euodias, and I beseech Syntyche, to be of one mind in the Lord. And I intreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women who laboured together with me in the gospel, with both Clement and my other fellow-labourers, whose names are in the book of life.
That the aged women in like manner, be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things: That they instruct the young women to be wise, to love their husbands,
Knowing that such an one is perverted and sinneth, 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, out of whom had gone seven devils,
And certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had gone seven devils, And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.
And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
Let not a widow be chosen under threescore years old,
Let not a widow be chosen under threescore years old, having been the wife of one husband, Well reported of for good works, if she hath brought up children, if she hath lodged strangers, if she hath washed the feet of the saints, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.
having been the wife of one husband, Well reported of for good works, if she hath brought up children, if she hath lodged strangers, if she hath washed the feet of the saints, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work. But the younger widows refuse; for when they are waxed wanton against Christ, they want to marry;
But the younger widows refuse; for when they are waxed wanton against 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
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I commend unto you Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, That ye may receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and assist her in whatsoever business she needeth you: for she hath been an helper of many, and of myself also.
And I beseech you, brethren, as ye know the houshold of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to serve the saints,
In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, 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 Phebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,
Salute Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. Salute Andronicus and Junias,
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, who hath laboured much in the Lord.
In like manner their wives must be serious, not slanderers, vigilant, faithful in all things.
Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or grand children, let these learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. read more. Now she that is a widow indeed and desolate, trusteth in God and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth. And enjoin these things, that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own family, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel. Let not a widow be chosen under threescore years old, having been the wife of one husband, Well reported of for good works, if she hath brought up children, if she hath lodged strangers, if she hath washed the feet of the saints, if she hath relieved the afflicted, if she hath diligently followed every good work.
That the aged women in like manner, be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things: