Theologies - Clover

3. Deaconesses
a. Biblical passage
Romans 16:1-2
"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant (Grk. diakonos)
of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a
way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from
you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me."
1 Timothy 3:11 (NASB)
"Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips,
but temperate, faithful in all things."
b. Question : is this an office (office of elder, office of deacon, office
of deaconess) or a ministry description (of serving others)?
c. Arguments :
(1) For office
(a) The word (diakonos) is used outside of the
New Testament to refer to an office.
(b) "Likewise" in 1 Timothy 3:11 seems to introduce
female deacons as it did for male deacons
in 1 Timothy 3:8.
(c) "Women" in 1 Timothy 3 refers not to the wife of a
deacon, but to one who holds an office, i.e. a deaconess.
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