Marg Mowczko

@ Dave Hi! 100 yay! 😀

@ Mark 91 In New Testament parlance a servant (diakonos) IS a minister, and vice versa! So I agree with you on that. I only diasagree with your conclusions about Phoebe, and I am genuinely sad that you have singled her out from the rest of the diakonoi named by Paul simply because of her gender. 🙁

NT authors used different words (other than diakonos) for “real” servants, such as Rhoda (Acts 12:13) and the woman in the courtyard (Mark 14:66). The numerous cognates of diakonos are used OVERWHELMINGLY in the context of Christian service-ministry throughout the NT. The only time cognates of diakonos are used for “real” servants are for the wedding attendents in John 2:5,9. And as I’ve said previously you can’t be a “real” servant and a prostatis (Rom 16:2). The two are at opposite ends of the social spectrum.

In the plainest reading of Romans 16:1-2 in the Greek we can see that Phoebe was a minister of the congregation of Cenchrea and a leader (or possibly patron) of many, including Paul. Paul is emphasising Phoebe’s credentials. Paul commends Phoebe to the Roman church. He asks them to receive her in a manner worthy of the saints, and to assist her in whatever she may need. Phoebe sounds like a serious minister involved in significant ministry.

Furthermore, there is little doubt that Phoebe did not travel to Rome alone. She would have had travelling companions for safety, etc. But only Phoebe is mentioned by Paul. To argue that Phoebe was not a leader in Christian service-ministry is to view Romans 16:1-2 with bias.

BTW, here are some feminine Greek words:
“exousia”: authority, power;
“basileia” reign, kingdom;
“hegemonia”: reign, rule;
“oikonomia”: administration, management, etc.

As for “a one woman man” not excluding women: people from both sides of the women in ministry debate (people with much more knowledge, and who have done much more research than myself) take this position. I have written about this also at http://newlife.id.au/equality-and-gender-issues/pauls-qualifications-for-church-leaders/