Phebe Hands Paul's Letter to Priscilla in RomeBible World
16:1Romans 16:1
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
The verse identifies Phoebe as a Christian sister and a servant of the church at Cenchrea. Paul commends her to the believers at Rome. It calls believers to receive her in the Lord in a manner fitting for holy believers. It calls believers to assist her with whatever practical business she needs. This commendation is grounded in the fact that she helped many believers, including Paul himself.
Her help included caring for Paul, entertaining the apostles, and in a marked manner caring for strangers in need. Aquila and Priscilla are named alongside her as fellow helpers who are also to be greeted. The verse reveals the Lord's design that believers care for the interests of brethren and sisters. Her example shows that women served as fellow workers in the gospel who could benefit others through their service. Her hospitality is an example for churches to follow.
Applied to daily life, it calls for freely entertaining brethren and sisters with simple food and without taking pay. Such hospitality and visiting bind hearts together, put covetousness to death, and keep brotherly love alive. Applied to missionary work, it means receiving traveling missionaries and making a home for them even at considerable sacrifice. It means taking them in when their necessity is seen and welcoming them to what is at hand without embarrassment or parade.
The verse identifies Phoebe as a Christian sister and a servant of the church at Cenchrea. Paul commends her to the believers at Rome. It calls believers to receive her in the Lord in a manner fitting for holy believers. It calls believers to assist her with whatever practical business she needs. This commendation is grounded in the fact that she helped many believers, including Paul himself.
Her help included caring for Paul, entertaining the apostles, and in a marked manner caring for strangers in need. Aquila and Priscilla are named alongside her as fellow helpers who are also to be greeted. The verse reveals the Lord's design that believers care for the interests of brethren and sisters. Her example shows that women served as fellow workers in the gospel who could benefit others through their service. Her hospitality is an example for churches to follow.
Applied to daily life, it calls for freely entertaining brethren and sisters with simple food and without taking pay. Such hospitality and visiting bind hearts together, put covetousness to death, and keep brotherly love alive. Applied to missionary work, it means receiving traveling missionaries and making a home for them even at considerable sacrifice. It means taking them in when their necessity is seen and welcoming them to what is at hand without embarrassment or parade.