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Romans 16:1The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures
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16
Συνίστημι δὲ ὑμῖν Φοίβην τὴν ἀδελφὴν ἡμῶν, οὖσαν καὶ διάκονον τῆς ἐκκλησίας τῆς ἐν Κενχρεαῖς,
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Romans 16:1American Standard Version
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16 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae:
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Romans 16:1The Emphasized Bible
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16 And I commend to you Phoebe our sister,—Being a minister [also] of the assembly which is in Cenchreae;
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Romans 16:1King James Version
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16 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
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Romans Study Notes—Chapter 16New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)
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I am introducing: Or “I recommend.” Paul is apparently introducing Phoebe to the Christians in Rome for the purpose of encouraging them to accept her and to adopt the same attitude toward her that Paul had. (Ro 16:2) The Greek word used here is related to the Greek term Paul used at 2Co 3:1 in the expression “letters of recommendation.” In Bible times, such letters of recommendation were a common way of introducing people to strangers. Phoebe, who served as a minister in the Cenchreae congregation, may have carried Paul’s letter to the Christians in Rome.
a minister: Or “a servant.” The Greek word di·aʹko·nos is broad in meaning. When Paul called Phoebe “a minister of the congregation,” he apparently made reference to the Christian ministry, the spreading of the good news. Preaching the good news is a responsibility of all Christian ministers. (Compare Ac 2:17, 18 with study note on Ro 11:13.) The related term di·a·ko·neʹo is also used of women who ministered, or served, to provide food and other assistance to Jesus and his followers. (Lu 8:3) Since di·aʹko·nos is sometimes used in an official sense, referring to appointed “ministerial servants” in the Christian congregation (Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8, 12), some translators render it “deacon” or “deaconess” here at Ro 16:1. But when the Bible mentions the qualifications for “ministerial servants,” it does not indicate that such appointed servants could be women. Rather, they are described as “husbands of one wife.” (1Ti 3:8-13) Accordingly, many translators understand the term as used here in a general sense and render it “servant” or “helper.”
Cenchreae: One of Corinth’s seaports about 11 km (7 mi) E of Corinth. After staying in Corinth for more than 18 months, Paul sailed from Cenchreae to Ephesus about 52 C.E. (See study note on Ac 18:18.) The Scriptures do not indicate when the Christian congregation was established at Cenchreae. Some suggest that the congregation was a fruitage of Paul’s long stay in Corinth, but it was definitely established before 56 C.E. when he wrote his letter to the Romans.
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