Faculty Publications

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-2013

Abstract

The role of Phoebe in early Christianity has been hotly debated throughout the centuries, ranging from views suggesting that her ministry was nothing more than that of a helper (or patron) of the apostolic task, to those ascribing to her a significant ministerial role. As we shall see, this debate often influenced the biblical translations of the Greek words used by Paul to describe the ministry of this remarkable woman. In this article, I will focus on three aspects of Phoebe’s ministry that flow from the text of Romans 16:1, 2: her ministry as a diakonos; her role as the letter bearer to the Romans; and finally, her role as a prostatis, which literally translates as “the one who stands before.”

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Retrieved June 29, 2015, from Ministry

Journal Title

Ministry: International Journal for Pastors

Volume

85

Issue

4

First Page

10

Last Page

13

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