This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book, Paul, Women and Church, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com. To read about the Int’l Christian Women’s Hall of Fame he and his wife, Dr. Susan Hyatt, are establishing in Grapevine, TX, click this link. https://www.gwtwchristianwomenshalloffame.com/
Phoebe was a woman leader
for whom Paul had great respect as is borne out in the language he used to
describe her. The power of his words is lost in our English translations, but
is very obvious in the Greek (Romans 16:1-2). In fact, an argument could be made
from Paul’s own words that Phoebe had once functioned in a pastoral type role
toward him.
Phoebe Was a Minister
In Romans 16:1, Paul refers to Phoebe as, A servant of the
church in Cenchrea. The English word “servant” in this passage is
misleading. It is from the Greek word diakonos
and should be translated as “minister.”
Indeed, diakonos is translated as “minister” in
twenty-three places where it is used of men, including Paul, Barnabas, and
Apollos (I Corinthians 3:4). In this one place where it is used of a woman,
these same translators chose to use the word “servant,” a clear example of
their bias (Hyatt, Paul, Women and Church,
26).
Diakonos does literally means “servant” but became a word for Christian
leaders as a result of Jesus using it in response to the request by James and
John for special seats of power in His kingdom. Jesus replied that whoever
wanted to be great must become a diakonos,
that is, a “servant.”
From that declaration of Jesus, diakonos became a common designation for Christian ministers,
highlighting the servant character of Christian leadership. The well-known
evangelical theologian, E. Earle Ellis, wrote,
Diakonos is used frequently in the Pauline letters for those who
exercise ministries of teaching and preaching. The title is given to Paul and
to a number of his associates who are active on a continuing basis as traveling
missionaries or as coworkers in local congregations. In terms of modern
function, it best corresponds to the modern designation “minister” (Hyatt, Paul, Women and Church, 27).
Designating Phoebe as a diakonos shows that she was a
“minister” from the church in Cenchrea who had been sent by that church to Rome
on a special assignment. Paul recognizes her as such by using the same word for
her that he uses for himself, for Barnabas, and for Apollos.
Phoebe Was a Woman “Set Over” Others
Paul also said that Phoebe had been a prostatis to many, and
of myself also. The KJV and NKJV translate the word as “helper,” but Thayer’s
Greek-English Lexicon says that prostatis refers to “a woman set
over others” and that it describes Phoebe as a “guardian, protector, and
benefactor.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary
of New Testament Words says that prostatis
is a word of “dignity” and indicates the high esteem with which she was
regarded.
These definitions are correct for prostatis is made up of the prefix pro,
meaning “before,” and “istemi,” meaning “to stand.” It, therefore, literally
means “to stand before” and identifies Phoebe as a leader with the qualities
one would expect in a modern-day pastor (Hyatt, Paul, Women and Church, 28).
Phoebe Had “Stood Before” Paul
Some will argue that Phoebe was merely a patroness to Paul who
supplied financial support for his ministry. However, the overall sense of the
passage, including Paul’s designation of her as a “minister,” militates against
such an interpretation. She was one who had “stood before” others, including
Paul himself.
An argument could be made from this passage that Phoebe had, at
some time, functioned in a pastoral type role toward Paul. She is obviously
held in very high esteem by him for he exhorts the Roman believers, both men
and women, to receive her and respect her in the Lord in a manner worthy of
the saints, and to assist her in whatever business she has need of you
(Romans 16:2).
Women Pastors in the New Testament
The tradition against a woman functioning as a pastor is so
strong in some circles, that it will not even be considered. Part of the reason
is a misunderstanding of the nature of New Testament Christianity. Whereas the
modern church tends to be institutional, official and programmatic, the New
Testament church was dynamic, fluid and Spirit-led.
This is reflected in the fact that the English noun “pastor” is
found only once in the entire New Testament. The Greek word from which it is translated,
poimen, literally means “shepherd”
and is found 18 times in the New Testament. It is used only once of Christian
leaders, in Ephesians 4:11, where it is listed as one of the Ascension Gifts
given to His church by the victorious, ascended Christ.
In introducing these Ascension Gifts, Paul makes it clear that
they are given to women as well as to men. He does this by using
gender-inclusive language when introducing these gifts in Ephesians 4:8 where
he says, When He ascended on high He led
captivity captive and gave gifts to men (NKJV).
“Men” is a poor translation of the Greek word anthropoi, which is gender-inclusive and
literally means “people.” The translators of the 2011 NIV got it right by translating
the passage, When He ascended on high, He
took many captives and gave gifts to His people.
If Paul had wanted to confine these leadership gifts to men only
he could have signaled that desire by using gender-specific language. Instead,
he makes it clear that these gifts are given to both men and women but using
the Greek word anthropoi, meaning “people.”
What About Women Being Silent?
“But,” some will protest, “What about Paul’s calls for female silence
and submission in I Corinthians 14:34 and I Timothy 11:12?”
A careful examination of those passages reveal that Paul is
responding to local situations in Corinth and Ephesus, and his statements were
never meant to be applied across the board to all women and all churches
everywhere.
To make those two passages the controlling passages concerning
women, leads to the denial of the fact that Paul recognizes numerous women
preachers and teachers who are his coworkers and fellow ministers in the
gospel. These include Phoebe, Priscilla, Junia, Tryphena, Tryphosa and those
women in Philippi whom he says, labored
with me in the gospel (Philippians 4:3).
Conclusion
Yes, Phoebe was a respected Christian leader in the early church
with qualities we would expect in a modern-day pastor. The evidence indicates
that she may well have functioned in a pastoral-type ministry toward Paul at
some point in his life.
This article is derived from Dr. Eddie Hyatt’s latest book,
Paul, Women and Church, available from Amazon and his website at www.eddiehyatt.com.
To read about the Int’l Christian Women’s Hall of Fame he and his wife, Dr.
Susan Hyatt, are establishing in Grapevine, TX, click this link. https://www.gwtwchristianwomenshalloffame.com/
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