Women Deacons?
Why does Paul call Pheobe a deacon?
I’m confused, why does Paul seem to approve of phoebe being a deacon? I thought only men could be deacons.
(From Roman’s 16)
A: He doesn't.
The qualifications for deacons is in 1 Tim. 8-10 and 12-13.
It states that deacons are to be “men worthy of respect” (1 Timothy 3:8) and the qualification “the husband of but one wife” (1 Timothy 3:12) disqualifies women from serving as deacons.
The Greek word "diakonos" and its cognates is a perfectly good and useful word that means... "servant". There's another Greek word that is occasionally translated servant, "doulos". The former word carries a sense of "honorable service", whereas the latter is often better translated "slave", and conveys humility (or even humiliation) rather than honor.
Now go do a study of wherever those two Greek words appear in scripture. When the author -- Paul especially -- wants to convey *honor*, he uses "diakonos". When he wants to convey humility, he uses "doulos". (ETA: my point here is that with this systematic understanding, it is clear that Paul wanted to honor Phoebe for her truly honorable service, not that he was affirming her as an officer of the church).
In other places-- especially Acts, but also Paul’s writings on qualifications for officers -- diakonos is used to describe the church office. You can tell this because **the context is talking about church office**, and that same context makes it clear that only men are permitted.
Moreover, Paul called Jesus a "diakonos" just one chapter earlier in Romans 15:8; and he refers to Timothy -- an elder -- as a "diakonos" in 1 Tim 4:6.
Again, Paul often uses that word to emphasize the honorability of "service" rather than the particular church office.
Here Paul is saying that Phoebe serves in the church, in the sense that she works diligently and selflessly.
Again, Paul wasn't using the word to refer to the office. He was using it to refer to a general service to the church.
Paul thought enough of her to entrust her with the tremendous responsibility of delivering a letter to the church in Rome (Romans 16:1-2). Clearly, he saw her not as inferior or less capable, but as a trusted and valued member of the body of Christ, serving them and God.
The fundamental problem with people claiming women can inhabit this office is it nearly instantly is in conflict with Paul's restriction of teaching and authority to qualified men only in 1 Tim 2.
From the work an actual Deacon does, where this is most clear, "exhorting members to show mercy, and gather and manage the offerings" both are authoritative actions. Exhorting those who aren't showing mercy can contain discipline. Gathering and managing the offerings in place of the elders doing it, is a form of church authority. Only men have authority in the Church.
The problem today is many western churches have a loosy goosey (unbiblical) definition of a deacon who is "just like this person who serves".
Women can serve in Church in many areas but the roles of Pastor-Teacher and Deacon are reserved to men only.
There are many areas God has open for women to serve and help in the chyrch. In the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison. They also instructed women and children (Titus 2:3-5).
Serving as a believer doesnt mean all are automatically deacons. There is a gender specific rule applied to roles (which God ordained) that only men can hold and Scripture is very clear on the "WHY".
As believers we simply believe what God has revealed, and submit to it -end of discussion. Believers dont even question it. They say Okay this is what God revealed, this is the truth, and they embrace it & move on. For those who are not saved, they rebel against this. Thus we can easily see who belong to God and who do not.
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