Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Romans: Chapter 16].
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16:1 {I commend} (\sunist•mi\). The regular word for letters of
commendation as in 2Co 3:1 (\sustatik•n epistol•n\). See also
Ro 3:5. So here verses 1,2 constitute Paul's recommendation
of Phoebe, the bearer of the Epistle. Nothing else is known of
her, though her name (\Phoib•\) means bright or radiant. {Sister}
(\adelph•n\). In Christ, not in the flesh. {Who is a servant of
the church} (\ousan diakonon t•s ekkl•sias\). The etymology of
\diakonos\ we have had repeatedly. The only question here is
whether it is used in a general sense or in a technical sense as
in Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8-13. In favour of the technical sense of
"deacon" or "deaconess" is the addition of "\t•s ekkl•sias\" (of
the church). In some sense Phoebe was a servant or minister of
the church in Cenchreae. Besides, right in the midst of the
discussion in 1Ti 3:8-13 Paul has a discussion of \gunaikas\
(verse 11) either as women as deaconesses or as the wives of
deacons (less likely though possible). The _Apostolic
Constitutions_ has numerous allusions to deaconesses. The strict
separation of the sexes made something like deaconesses necessary
for baptism, visiting the women, etc. Cenchreae, as the eastern
port of Corinth, called for much service of this kind. Whether
the deaconesses were a separate organization on a par with the
deacons we do not know nor whether they were the widows alluded
to in 1Ti 5:9f.
16:2 {Worthily of the saints} (\axi•s t•n hagi•n\). Adverb with
the genitive as in Php 1:27 because the adjective \axios\ is
used with the genitive (Lu 3:8). "Receive her in a way worthy
of the saints." This word \hagios\ had come to be the accepted
term for followers of Christ. {Assist her} (\parast•te\). Second
aorist (intransitive) active subjunctive of \parist•mi\, to stand
by, with the dative case ("beside her"), the very word used by
Paul of the help of Jesus in his trial (\parest•\, 2Ti 4:17).
Used with \hina\ as \prosdex•sthe\. {In whatsoever matter} (\en
h•i pragmati\). Incorporation of the antecedent (\pragmati\) into
the relative clause (\h•i\). {She may have need of you} (\an
hum•n chr•iz•i\). Indefinite relative clause with \an\ and the
present subjunctive of \chr•iz•\ with genitive. {A succourer}
(\prostatis\). Old and rare feminine form for the masculine
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/RO16.RWP.html (1 of 7) [28/08/2004 09:10:43 a.m.]
Word Pictures in the New Testament
(Romans: Chapter 16)