Today’s passage: Romans 16:1-16
Helpful thoughts:
- The word translated as “Servant” and “Deacon” (Or in the feminine form, “Deaconess”) is the same Greek word. At least one modern translation calls Phoebe a Deacon of the church in Cenchreae (Implying that she held that office), but when the same word is used for Epaphras in Colossians 1:7, the same modern translation decided to use the word, “Servant.”
- It would not be appropriate to use this verse alone to argue for which gender(s) should hold the office of Deacon. Though 1 Timothy 3:11 may speak to the idea of women serving as deaconesses. According to 1 Timothy 2:12, Phoebe would not have served in a role where she held authority over the men in the church.
- Let’s focus on being thankful for the Lord’s grace in Phoebe’s life to serve the church so well, as well as so many other women who have faithfully served throughout the history of the church.
- It would not be appropriate to use this verse alone to argue for which gender(s) should hold the office of Deacon. Though 1 Timothy 3:11 may speak to the idea of women serving as deaconesses. According to 1 Timothy 2:12, Phoebe would not have served in a role where she held authority over the men in the church.
- Of the several people in this list made for greetings and to encourage warm welcomes:
- There are men and women
- There are Jews and Gentiles
- There are upper and lower class
- There are slave (Or former slave) and free
- The origin and typical uses of these names signify an incredibly diverse congregation…and they all make up one church.
- The “Holy kiss” was simply the common greeting in the ancient world made “holy” by the fellowship of the people greeting one another in Christ. Perhaps in our culture today we would prefer a “Holy hand-shake.”
Questions to consider:
- Which description of these brothers and sisters sticks out most to you? Why? What seems to be the theme of these characteristics?
- If Paul had added some names from our church to this list to greet, what do you think he would have said? How could you be an encourager to those people the next time you see them?
- What can we learn about from the diversity of the church in Rome? What does the church fellowship around? What truly unites God’s people? What might be some examples of preferences that have taken precedence over the Gospel in determining our fellowship in our culture?