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 to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is 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 to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is in Cenchrea;
Salute Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus;
Salute Triphaena and Triphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
I entreat Euodia, and I entreat Syntiche, to think the same thing in the Lord. Yea, I request you also, true yoke-fellow, help these women, who, indeed, labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement also, and my remaining fellow-laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
that aged women, in like manner, be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; that they may train the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children,
knowing that such a one has been turned aside, and is sinning, 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 who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them of their substance.
and Joanna wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to them of their substance.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is in Cenchrea;
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is in Cenchrea;
It is needful that their wives, in like manner, be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
It is needful that their wives, in like manner, be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding well over their own children and their own houses.
Let deacons be husbands of one wife, presiding well over their own children and their own houses.
Let a widow be enrolled, when she has become not less than sixty years old, having been a wife of one man,
Let a widow be enrolled, when she has become not less than sixty years old, having been a wife of one man, noted for good works; if she nourished children, if she used hospitality, if she washed the saints' feet, if she relieved those in tribulation, if she diligently followed every good work.
noted for good works; if she nourished children, if she used hospitality, if she washed the saints' feet, if she relieved those in tribulation, if she diligently followed every good work. But younger widows refuse; for, when they grow wanton against Christ, they wish to marry,
But younger widows refuse; for, when they grow wanton against 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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I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is in Cenchrea; that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself became a helper of many, and of myself.
Now I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first-fruit of Achaia, and that they appointed themselves for ministry to the saints),
It is needful that their wives, in like manner, be grave, not slanderers, sober, 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 to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the assembly which is in Cenchrea;
Salute Triphaena and Triphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
It is needful that their wives, in like manner, be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
Honor widows who are widows indeed. But, if any widow has children or grand-children, let them learn first to show regard to their own family, and to make returns to their parents; for this is acceptable before God. read more. Now she that is really a widow, and left alone, has set her hope on God, and continues in supplications and prayers, night and day. But she who lives in pleasure, though living, has died. And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. But, if any one provides not for his own, and especially for his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. Let a widow be enrolled, when she has become not less than sixty years old, having been a wife of one man, noted for good works; if she nourished children, if she used hospitality, if she washed the saints' feet, if she relieved those in tribulation, if she diligently followed every good work.
that aged women, in like manner, be reverent in demeanor, not slanderers, not enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;