Romans 16:1-2

1 I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,

² 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.

commend = praise

servant = renders service of any character — not necessarily a deaconess

helper — indicates an honorable position

“in the Lord” or “in Christ” appears 11 times in Romans 16

Phoebe may have carried the letter to Rome for Paul.

There were probably at least three churches in Rome, maybe five.

1. Priscill and Aquila’s (verses 3-5)

2. Verse 14

3. Verse 15

Cenchrea — the harbor of Corinth