Romans 16:1-2

Romans 16:1-2

[1] I commend  Phebe  sister,  a servant  of the church  which  is at  Cenchrea:  [2] That  ye receive  her  in  the Lord,  as becometh  saints,  and  that ye assist  her  in  whatsoever  business  she hath need  for  hath been  a succourer  of many,  and  of myself  also. 

What does Romans 16:1-2 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Phoebe (lit. bright or radiant) was evidently the woman who carried this epistle from Corinth to Rome.
"The name itself was one of the names of the goddess, Diana, and this would suggest that she was a convert from heathenism, not a Jewess." [1]
She was a "servant" (Gr. diakonon) of the church in her hometown, Cenchrea, the port of Corinth ( Acts 18:18; 2 Corinthians 1:1). It is unclear whether Phoebe held office as a deaconess [2] or whether she was simply an informal servant of the church. Paul stressed her service, not her office. The Greek word prostatis, "helper," occurs only here in the New Testament and probably means a helper in the sense of a benefactor or patron. She was his sister in the Lord, as seems clear from his reference to her as "our" sister. Letters of commendation were common in Paul"s day (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:1). Paul"s words here constituted such a letter for Phoebe.
Notice that the ministry of women in the Roman church is quite evident in this chapter. Paul referred to nine prominent women: Phoebe, Prisca, Mary, Tryphena, Thyphosa, Persis, Rufus" mother, Julia, and Nereus" sister.