Romans 16:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,

NIV: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.

NASB: I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea,

CSB: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae.

NLT: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.

KJV: I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

NKJV: I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

Paul continues to wrap up his long letter to the Romans. He launches into a list of recommendations and greetings, mentioning quite a few people by name.

He begins with Phoebe. She is the person who will deliver Paul's letter to the Christians in Rome, traveling from where Paul was staying in Corinth. Cenchreae was a seaport town located not far from Corinth. Paul describes Phoebe as "our sister" [in Christ] and as a servant of the church in Cenchreae.

The Greek word Paul uses for servant is diakonon, the same word sometimes translated as "deacon." It's possible Phoebe held some official position in the church, which may be one reason she was qualified to deliver the letter to the Romans on behalf of Paul. It's of note that Phoebe is referred to as a diakonon "of the church," rather than a servant in general. Likewise, in the next verse, she will be described as a prostatis, a term which often refers to a female guardian or overseer.

While Paul's explanation of the role of an elder is clear, when it comes to gender (1 Timothy 3:1–7), verses such as Romans 16:1 are one reason some Christians believe roles such as deaconess are biblically valid.

Romans 16:1–16 includes a list of two dozen or so people or groups that Paul wants his readers to greet for him in Rome. He begins by introducing them to Phoebe, the lady who will deliver this letter from him in Corinth. He asks them to greet his good friends and longtime partners in work and ministry Prisca—or Priscilla—and Aquila, who have returned to Rome from their time in Asia. Also on the list are close friends, slaves, royal families, and members of the various house churches that meet in Rome.

The final chapter of Romans contains four sections intended to wrap up the letter. Paul commends the woman who will deliver the letter and then sends greetings to many people he knows in Rome. After last-minute, urgent instruction about false teachers, Paul sends greetings to the Roman Christians from those who are with him in Corinth, including Timothy. Paul closes out the letter with a hymn of praise to the God who has revealed to all the nations of the earth the gospel of salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Prior verses detailed Paul's plans to visit Rome and asked for prayer. This text concludes his letter to the Christians in Rome with four quick sections. He sends his greetings to a list of people he knows, or at least knows of, in Rome. Paul offers last-minute instruction about false teachers. He sends greetings from those who are with him in Corinth. And he closes out the letter with a beautiful praise hymn to the God who has revealed the mystery of the gospel of Jesus to all nations so that all might obey faith in Jesus.

The book of Romans is the New Testament's longest, most structured, and most detailed description of Christian theology. Paul lays out the core of the gospel message: salvation by grace alone through faith alone. His intent is to explain the good news of Jesus Christ in accurate and clear terms. As part of this effort, Paul addresses the conflicts between law and grace, between Jews and Gentiles, and between sin and righteousness. As is common in his writing, Paul closes out his letter with a series of practical applications.