Romans 16

Friday, 7 February 2014

…that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also. Romans 16:2

Speaking of Phoebe from the previous verse, Paul continues his thought. He commended her to the Romans because she was a “servant of the church in Cenchrea.” Because of this he desired that they would “receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints.” In Christ, the once-limiting or exalting distinctions of “Jew,” “Gentile,” “male,” and “female” are set aside and all are one in Him. Therefore, it was his desire that she be so noted and treated.

In addition to receiving her, he wished them to go even further and to “assist her in whatever business she has need of” from them. If this meant time, resources, or money then Paul would desire them to go to those lengths in order to accommodate her. It is certain that if men had been sent on this mission, they would have received such things and Paul was establishing now that the same courtesies should be extended to women. As Paul’s letters are doctrine for the church, this precedent is intended to be carried out in all subsequent generations.

Finally, he gives another reason for his request. It is because “indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.” The word here for “helper” is prostatis and it indicates a female guardian, protector, or patroness. This is an honorable title and so it is Paul’s way of saying she is deserving of their assistance because of the position. This word prostatis is used only here in the New Testament. The verb form of it is always used with some sort of leadership position and so modern and liberal scholars make the unfounded supposition that she was therefore in such a leadership position.

This is inappropriate handling of such a word because elsewhere Paul has stated that women are not to be in such positions of authority over men. Therefore the translation “helper” is certainly appropriate. To translate this as a “leader,” particularly in the context of Paul’s surrounding words, would lead to exceptional confusion in doctrine and disorder within the church. The title, as given here, means that she probably was one who greatly helped Paul and others by providing meals, lodging, etc. She was probably also one to visit the sick in the congregation and to help others at the expense of herself; a tireless servant of the Lord.

As she was probably a widow (as noted in the previous verse), she would be the ultimate example of one, such as is described in 1 Timothy 5:9, 10. Paul recognized her importance, used her in the significant cause of transmitting the epistle because of this, and desired others to recognize her and reward her as well.

Life application:
Stop. Ask yourself, “Have I been a tireless servant of the Lord? Have I used my time and energy in the most effective way in serving Him?”
Consider. What can you do to improve upon the negative answer you just gave to yourself?
Determine. Resolve to develop your service for the Lord.
Act. Put your resolution into action.
Honor. Don’t let your future service become a point of boasting. Instead, give God the glory for whatever you do in the name of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, today I want to consider what I have actually done for You with my life. What would You consider of value when I stand in Your presence for the judgment of my deeds? As I consider this, I know it hasn’t been very much and so I ask You now to redirect my thoughts and actions to Your glory and for the sake of the exalted name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thursday, 6 February 2014

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea… Romans 16:1

The last chapter of Romans begins with Paul’s introduction of Phoebe, one of approximately 35 people that he will mention in the verses to come. His note, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister” is used as a way of highlighting her as a member of the church. Because she was travelling with the epistle, she was either specially chosen or volunteered for the duty. Thus she was a woman of note and so Paul includes the thought “I commend.” As a believer in Christ, she was thus to be treated in a worthy manner. In Galatians 3:28, we read that –

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Being a woman in the empire at this time and with a number of Jewish people in the church at Rome, without Paul’s commending her to them, it is possible that they would have treated her in a manner of less weight than she was so entitled. Based on her name, we know that she was a Gentile. And because she is traveling with the epistle, she was most likely a widow. Women who were never married, or who were currently married, would not be given such freedom to travel. Therefore, being a widow is an obvious conclusion.

Next Paul notes concerning her, that she “is a servant of the church.” The Greek word for “deaconess” is used here and so many try to interject that she was an instructor of the church or one who performed some type of ministerial function. It should be noted though that Scripture will never violate one of its own precepts. In 1 Timothy 2:12, it is explicitly noted that a woman is not to teach or have authority over a man. Therefore, any role she held would have been in a capacity which would not violate this precept. There would have been a specific order of women in the church for the service of other women.

As Albert Barnes notes concerning this, “Reference is made to a class of females whose duty it was to ‘teach’ other females, and to take the general superintendence of that part of the church, in various places in the New Testament; and their existence is expressly affirmed in early ecclesiastical history. They appear to have been commonly aged and experienced widows, sustaining fair reputation, and suited to guide and instruct those who were young and inexperienced.”

In this, there is nothing intended to diminish the value or importance of women, but there is – just as in the family unit, a hierarchy which has been established and which is intended for the overall good of those within it. This precept has been neglected in modern churches and doctrine has suffered because of it. When one precept is violated, it quickly leads to the violation of others.

Lastly, Paul notes that her position was at the “church in Cenchrea.” Cenchrea was a sea-port near Corinth and so it can be deduced that the epistle was probably written by Paul there in Corinth.

Life application: When evaluating Scripture, such as the verse today where Phoebe is called a “servant” or “deaconess,” the entire body of Scripture must be considered. Just because the title “deacon” is used in certain ways when speaking of others, it does not immediately mean that all people mentioned with that title bore the same level of authority or responsibility. Scripture will never violate Scripture. One must be careful when making assumptions to include a detailed analysis of everything the Bible intends for us to see.

Gracious and wonderful God! What an honor it is to know that You who set the stars in their places and who started them into motion also have care for me. Surely this is true because You sent Jesus for humanity, of whom I am counted. And so I know that even I am considered in Your mind. It is a truly humbling thought as I look to the vast sky which is filled with an uncountable number of stars. Amen.