diakonos (G1249)

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G1249 diakonos (dee-AH-ko-nos) — deacon, minister, servant. The same word for Phoebe as for Paul. 

Word: διάκονος · noun · Strong's G1249

In brief

Diakonos is the word for a deacon or minister, someone who serves on another's behalf. The New Testament uses it for church deacons, for Paul and Timothy as ministers of the gospel, and for Phoebe. English Bibles have often given men the title "deacon" or "minister" and given Phoebe the word "servant."

Where it appears

  • Romans 16:1 — Phoebe is a diakonos of the church at Cenchreae. The Greek uses the masculine form of the noun for her; there was no separate title for a woman.
  • 1 Timothy 3:8, 12 — the qualifications for diakonoi, translated "deacons."
  • Philippians 1:1 — Paul greets the overseers and diakonois of the church.
  • Ephesians 3:7; Colossians 1:23 — Paul calls himself a diakonos of the gospel, usually translated "minister."
  • 1 Timothy 4:6 — Timothy is a good diakonos of Christ Jesus.

What the lexicons say

Lexicons give both a general sense (one who serves as an agent or intermediary) and an official one (deacon, an office in the church). Phoebe is tied to a named church, the church at Cenchreae, which points to the official sense.

How translations render it

Translation Romans 16:1 (Phoebe)
KJV "a servant of the church"
ESV "a servant of the church" (footnote: or deaconess)
NIV (2011) "a deacon of the church"
NRSV "a deacon of the church"
CEB "a servant of the church"

The ESV translates the same word "deacons" in 1 Timothy 3:8 and "minister" for Paul in Ephesians 3:7, but "servant" for Phoebe.

Translation history

  • 1611, KJV: "servant" for Phoebe.
  • 19th century: commentators already noted the problem. Ellicott's Commentary says the word should be "deaconess," keeping the technical term.
  • Modern translations divide: NIV and NRSV say "deacon"; ESV keeps "servant" in the text and puts "deaconess" in a footnote.

See for yourself

  1. Read Romans 16:1–2. Paul asks the church to receive Phoebe and help her with whatever she needs. What does that suggest about her role, and about who likely carried the letter?
  2. Look up Ephesians 3:7 in your own Bible. What word does it use for Paul? What word does it use for Phoebe?

Related words

prostatis (G4368, patron, leader) · gynē (G1135, woman, wife)

Sources