Paul’s Greetings (16:1–16)

16:1–2 Phebe. A pagan name, though she was now a follower of the Lord Jesus of outstanding godliness and exemplary hospitality. There are no grounds here for any office of deaconess, as the Greek word diakonos (servant) can be used generically or officially, just as can the word presbuteros (elder). The deacons of the church were evidently men (Acts 6:3–6; 1 Tim. 3:12). Cenchrea was the eastern harbor of Corinth. Possibly Phebe was the bearer of the letter.

 Joel R. Beeke, Michael P. V. Barrett, and Gerald M. Bilkes, eds., The Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014), 1640.