May 18 Click on verses for Full Scripture

previous - - - - - - - - - - next

Today's Pathway: Romans 16:1-5 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

As Paul begins to draw his letter to a close, he mentions several people that he knows. He begins with Phoebe, who, according to the last verse in this chapter, was the one who actually transported the epistle to Rome. Since no one in the church there knew who she was, Paul recommends her to them, and tells them that they need to accept her. She was a believer, and Paul refers to her as a sister of his and of the church members in Rome. She was a member of the church at Cenchrea, and a faithful servant there. The term used for "servant" in verse 1 is the same term used for "deacon", and is feminine instead of masculine, which has led some to declare that Phoebe held the office of "deaconess", and therefore women can serve in the leadership position of a deacon. This is not the case. In I Timothy 3:8-13 it is clear that deacons were men. In Acts 6 the church was instructed to pick out men who would serve as deacons. So, Phoebe was not a female deacon, nor did she hold some official position known as "deaconess", for that office is never established in the New Testament. She was a godly woman who served faithfully in her local church and who Paul could entrust to carry his letter from Corinth to Rome. Paul also refers to her as a "succourer". Albert Barnes explains the meaning of this term.

"The word used here means, properly, a patron, a help, and was applied to one who became a patron of others; who aided or defended them in their cause; and especially one who undertook to manage the cause of strangers and foreigners before the courts. Applied to Phebe, it means probably that she had shown great kindness in various ways to the apostle, and to other Christians; probably by receiving them into her house; by administering to the sick, etc.".

Beginning in verse 3 Paul instructs the church to give greetings to specific people that the church people knew. The first two are Priscilla and Aquila. He refers to them as his helpers in the ministry. Paul first met this couple in Acts 18:2-3. In Acts 18:24-27 Paul met a man named Apollos, who was "an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures". He was also "instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord". Unfortunately, his theological knowledge was limited, for the Bible says that he only knew about John's baptism and nothing more. So, he needed additional teaching, and the people who were qualified to give him further instruction in his doctrine were Aquila and Priscilla. In addition to being able to teach the Word, according to verse 4, this couple was willing to risk their lives for Paul's sake. Because of this, not only was Paul grateful for them, but all the Gentile churches were as well, for apparently, had Aquila and Priscilla not been willing to take that risk, his ministry to the Gentiles would have been hindered or ended. According to verse 5 a church was meeting in their home. This would certainly have been an inconvenience, and perhaps put them at risk from the Roman government. But they did it anyway. And, this was not the first time. I Corinthians 16:19 states,

"Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house."

Ministering, succoring, helping, sacrificing, church planting, risking everything for the Gospel. These are characteristics that Paul states that these friends had. If he was writing about us, would he say the same things?