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Female Servants (Female Servants (deacons?deacons?) ) in the Churchin the Church
Romans 16:1-2Romans 16:1-2
Romans 16:1-2Romans 16:1-2
• I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:Cenchrea:
• That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
PhoebePhoebe
Phoebe is a female name with Phoebe is a female name with a Greek origin—what is the a Greek origin—what is the
significance of this?significance of this?
Phoebe’s ConversionPhoebe’s Conversion
Romans 1:16Romans 1:16• For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:
for it is the power of God unto salvation to for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. also to the Greek.
Phoebe Our SisterPhoebe Our Sister
Salvific adoption in the family of Salvific adoption in the family of God establishes brother and God establishes brother and sister relationships without sister relationships without
regard to biological or family regard to biological or family relationships.relationships.
Look what Christ said:Look what Christ said:
Mark 10:29-30Mark 10:29-30
Mark 10:29-30Mark 10:29-30
• And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. the world to come eternal life.
Romans 16:1Romans 16:1
• AV, NKJV, NAS, ESV, HCSB, NIVAV, NKJV, NAS, ESV, HCSB, NIV– I commend unto you Phebe our sister, I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a which is a
servantservant of the church which is at Cenchrea: of the church which is at Cenchrea:
• NLTNLT– I commend to you our sister Phoebe, I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a who is a
deacondeacon in the church in Cenchrea. in the church in Cenchrea.
QuestionQuestion
Was Phoebe a female deacon?Was Phoebe a female deacon?
Serious Bible StudySerious Bible Study
We Can UseWe Can Use
www.blueletterbible.org
To Answer the QuestionTo Answer the Question
ConclusionConclusion
From Paul’s use of From Paul’s use of diakonosdiakonos in in three different ways we cannot three different ways we cannot
affirm or deny that females affirm or deny that females occupied the office of deacon in occupied the office of deacon in
the church Cenchrea.the church Cenchrea.
What do we know?What do we know?
Phoebe was a female and was Phoebe was a female and was trusted with delivering this trusted with delivering this
letter from Paul to the church letter from Paul to the church at Rome.at Rome.
Romans 16:2Romans 16:2
• That ye receive her in the Lord, That ye receive her in the Lord,
These instructions combined with a These instructions combined with a non-canonical note, at the end of non-canonical note, at the end of some manuscripts, indicate that some manuscripts, indicate that
Phoebe is the one who would deliver Phoebe is the one who would deliver the letter to the church at Rome.the letter to the church at Rome.
Romans 16:2Romans 16:2
• That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: business she hath need of you:
• for she hath been a for she hath been a succourersuccourer of many, of many, and of myself also. and of myself also.
Why?Why?
Succourer/PatronSuccourer/Patron
prostatis prostatis • a female guardian, protectress, patroness, a female guardian, protectress, patroness,
caring for the affairs of others and aiding caring for the affairs of others and aiding them with her resources.them with her resources.
ConclusionConclusion
At this point, we can’t say At this point, we can’t say enough about the contribution enough about the contribution that godly woman like Phoebe that godly woman like Phoebe make in the Kingdom of God.make in the Kingdom of God.
2121stst Century Question Century Question
Based on Romans 16:1 should Based on Romans 16:1 should the church include females in the church include females in
the office of the deacon?the office of the deacon?
Philippians 1:1Philippians 1:1
• Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
Are these only males or
gender integrated
offices in the church?
QuestionQuestion
Does God care whether we Does God care whether we have males or females serving have males or females serving
as pastors (elders) and as pastors (elders) and deacons in His church?deacons in His church?
1 Timothy 2:11-121 Timothy 2:11-12
• Let the woman learn in silence with all Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. subjection.
• But I [Paul an Apostle] suffer not a But I [Paul an Apostle] suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. over the man, but to be in silence.
QuestionQuestion
Are we dealing with a male Are we dealing with a male chauvinist (Paul) or is this chauvinist (Paul) or is this
inspired Scripture?inspired Scripture?
This is FoundationalThis is Foundational
Either all Scripture is God-Either all Scripture is God-breathed and God has breathed and God has preserved it or you can preserved it or you can
take your scissors to the take your scissors to the Bible…Bible…
2 Timothy 3:162 Timothy 3:16
• All scripture is given by inspiration of God All scripture is given by inspiration of God [God-breathed], and is profitable [God-breathed], and is profitable
– for doctrine, for doctrine, – for reproof, for reproof, – for correction, for correction, – for instruction in righteousness: for instruction in righteousness:
Here’s What we KnowHere’s What we Know
In the Bible:In the Bible:• Priests were always malesPriests were always males• There are no female apostles in NTThere are no female apostles in NT• There are no elders with female namesThere are no elders with female names• Women Women diddid step up in the absence of males step up in the absence of males
QuestionQuestion
Are we dealing with a male Are we dealing with a male chauvinist (Paul) or is this chauvinist (Paul) or is this
inspired Scripture?inspired Scripture?
Paul WrotePaul Wrote
Galatians 3:28Galatians 3:28• There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither bond nor free, there is neither male neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
This unites us This unites us “In Christ” “In Christ” without compromising without compromising God-ordained gender distinctions.God-ordained gender distinctions.
Ladies BiblicallyLadies Biblically
The only limit to your service in The only limit to your service in the local church is teaching men the local church is teaching men
the Bible or exercising the Bible or exercising ecclesiastical authority over men. ecclesiastical authority over men.
1 Timothy 2:11-121 Timothy 2:11-12
• Let the woman learn in silence with all Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. subjection.
• But I [Paul an Apostle] suffer not a But I [Paul an Apostle] suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. over the man, but to be in silence.
LadiesLadies
Does this text grind at you? Does this text grind at you? Why?Why?
Let’s look at Let’s look at
1 Corinthians 11:1-31 Corinthians 11:1-3
• Be ye followers of me, even as I also am Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. of Christ.
• Now I praise you, brethren, that ye Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you. ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
• But I would have you know, But I would have you know, that the that the head of every man is Christ; head of every man is Christ; and the and the head of the woman is the manhead of the woman is the man; and the ; and the head of Christ is God. head of Christ is God.
QuestionQuestion
Do you believe God has Do you believe God has ordained specific gender-ordained specific gender-distinctions for males and distinctions for males and
females?females?
1 Timothy 3:131 Timothy 3:13
What is the point of Paul’s statement in verse What is the point of Paul’s statement in verse 13?13?
• For Adam was first formed; then Eve.For Adam was first formed; then Eve.
Progressives want to eliminate the God-Progressives want to eliminate the God-ordained distinctions of male and female ordained distinctions of male and female
in the church.in the church.
QuestionQuestion
Do you believe there are God-Do you believe there are God-ordained sexual orientations ordained sexual orientations or can each man and woman or can each man and woman do what is right in their own do what is right in their own
eyes?eyes?
QuestionQuestion
Can a woman be an Can a woman be an elder/pastor and not teach elder/pastor and not teach
men or usurp authority over?men or usurp authority over?
QuestionQuestion
Is our objective to suppress Is our objective to suppress woman in the church or be woman in the church or be
faithful to God’s plan?faithful to God’s plan?
Berean Baptist Has:Berean Baptist Has:
FemaleFemale• PrincipalPrincipal• TeachersTeachers• Ministry LeadersMinistry Leaders• Awana Directors Awana Directors
Ladies can serve any Ladies can serve any place in the church place in the church
where the direction of where the direction of their teaching their teaching ministry and ministry and
authority is directed authority is directed toward other ladies toward other ladies
and children and still and children and still be within the be within the
guidance the Apostle guidance the Apostle Paul gave us.Paul gave us.
Women to WomenWomen to Women
Titus 2:3–4Titus 2:3–4• The aged women likewise, that they be in The aged women likewise, that they be in
behavior as becometh holiness, not false behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of teachers of good things; That they may teach the young good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober,women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their husbands, to love their children, to love their children,
Romans 16:1-2Romans 16:1-2
• I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, which is which is a servant of the church a servant of the church which is at which is at Cenchrea:Cenchrea:
• That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
