Was Phoebe a deaconess in the church at Cenchrea?

Phoebe was a Christian sister of the first-century

congregation in Cenchreae. Paul, in his letter to the Christians at

Rome, 'recommends' this sister to them and calls on them to render

her any needed assistance as one who "proved to be a defender of

many, yes, of me myself." (Romans 16:1, 2) It may be that Phoebe

delivered Paul's letter in Rome or else accompanied the one who

did.

Paul refers to Phoebe as "a minister of the

congregation that is in Cenchreae." This raises the question as to

the sense in which the term di·a´ko·nos (minister) is here used.

Some translators view the term in an official sense and hence

render it "deaconess" (RS, JB). But the Scriptures make no

provision for female deacons, or "deaconesses". Goodspeed's

translation views the term in a general sense and translates it

"helper." However, Paul's reference is evidently to something

having to do with the spreading of the good news, the Christian

ministry, and he was speaking of Phoebe as a female minister who

was associated with the congregation in Cenchreae.-Compare Acts

2:17, 18.

-- From Insight on the Scriptures, volume II, page

635, Phoebe, published by Jehovah's Witnesses.