We only find one passage which speaks of Pheobe, but it is very instructive. That passage is Romans 16:1-2, “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also” (NKJV). Let’s break these verses down and see what we can learn.

“I COMMEND to you Phoebe OUR SISTER….” It was customary for believers who traveled to churches where they were unknown to carry with them a “letter of commendation” (see 2 Corinthians 3:1). We know she was a believer for Paul calls her “our sister,” which means she was “a sister in Christ,” one who had entered the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ. “But as many as received Him (Jesus Christ), to them he gave the right to become the CHILDREN OF GOD, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1:12). Paul would never commend an unbeliever to a local church for fellowship, for only true children of God can enjoy the fellowship of believers (see 2 Corinthians 6:14-18). I should also note that it is possible that Pheobe was the one who carried this epistle to the church at Rome. If not, she was no doubt in the company of those who did bring the letter.

“Who is a SERVANT of the church in Cenchrea…” The word “servant” here is the Greek word DIAKONOS. Some translations render this word “deaconess” which would imply that Pheobe served the church in Cenchrea in “temporal matters” such as “serving tables of food to others” (see Acts 6:1-3). She had the “heart of a servant” and was willing to “serve in any capacity” that the Lord wanted her to. Would that this were true of all believers! You may recall what Saul of Tarsus said right after he was converted to Christ; he said, “Lord, what will you have me to do” (Acts 9:6…KJV). This is the “attitude of heart” the Lord is looking for and Phoebe had that attitude. Is this true of us?

“That you may RECEIVE HER in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints.” Scripture is very clear that the local assembly (church) is responsible to RECEIVE people for fellowship, but only if the one who comes is not “excluded by Scripture.” Even if one is a true believer they would not be received by the church if they were 1) living in unjudged sin (see 1 Corinthians 5:1-5, 9-13); 2) holding false doctrine (Galatians 5:2-8); or 3) associated with immorality or false doctrine (1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9; 2 John 9-11). Pheobe was not guilty of any of these things so Paul tells the saints at Rome to receive this “fellow-saint” and to give her the treatment that “a saint deserves.”

“Assist her in whatever business she has need of you; for indeed she has been a HELPER of many and myself also.” We aren’t told exactly what “business” Pheobe was engaged in, but the saints at Rome were to be ready to HELP HER with whatever assistance she needed. Why? Because she herself was a “HELPER of many,” including a “HELPER of the apostle Paul.” Again, she was a true servant, and willing to HELP whoever she could, and it was only right that the church at Rome extend to her the same courtesy of helping her in any way they could.

I trust we have learned something from these two verses about the character of this dear child of God. May we all seek to emulate her character by being a WILLING and HELPFUL SERVANT to others. If we do, we will be pleasing to the Lord, and if we do find ourselves traveling to another local assembly where we are unknown, we will surely be “commended by our local church” and “received joyfully by the church we are visiting.”  (DO)  (594.3)