I Commend Unto You Phebe Our Sister (Romans 16:1-2)

2024-01-25

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. (Romans 16:1-2)

This lady of Cenchrea was entrusted with this precious letter to the Romans. She was “our sister” and a “servant.” She was a helper of many who proved herself faithful. Because of this, the apostle told the recipients to help her with whatever business she may request.

So many have tried to make this more than what this is. “See, she was a deacon!” and so forth. So much struggle for power in our day when the plain reading of this text is that she was a faithful servant. “And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all” (Mark 9:35). Let us stop all this strife and be like Phebe, a faithful servant, because this is greatest indeed.