Phoebe the Helper and Deaconess
Phoebe was a trailblazer, paving the way for female ministerial work, an inspiration to those who want to go against societal oppressive constraints. To those who believe that women cannot be ministers, her work is proof that God uses women in all church positions. Phoebe is portrayed as a leader, a deaconess in the church of Cenchreae.
Although mentioned only briefly in the New Testament [Romans 16:1-2], her impact is great. Paul describes her as a benefactor. In its early stages, Christianity needed financial support and depended on the generosity of believers. Phoebe was likely a financial contributor to the early Christian movement.
She carried, delivered, and read Paul’s letter to the Romans, something that was crucial for the formation of Christian Theology. For many Christians, including Augustine and Martin Luther, Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is almost of equivalent importance to the Gospels [Phillip J. Long 2019].
Forming the basis of Christian Theology, a woman was tasked to deliver the letter to the Romans. Phoebe takes a chair as part of the women in history who stand out, taking up supposedly manly positions.
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