Translation Matters: Who Was Phoebe?
Portrait of a Roman matron, Sardinia, Italy, 10-20 CE, Marble, University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Photo by Mary Harrsch. Creative Commons.
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How words are translated makes a difference.
Consider the example of Phoebe. At the end of the letter to the Romans, Paul mentions a woman named Phoebe. Two of the Greek words he uses to identify her can be translated in different ways.
How we see Phoebe can depend on how translators choose to interpret these words.
What Words Does Paul Use to Identify Phoebe in Romans 16:1–2?
One of the Greek words is diákonos. One meaning is “servant.” Later the word identified deacons as people with a special role in the early communities. The context of the word in Romans 16:1 indicates that she has a special role in the community or church at Cenchreae. Diákonos is used in its masculine form, so her role is as a “deacon,” not a “deaconess.”
The other Greek word used to identify Phoebe is próstatis. It is the feminine version of prostátes. (The English word for a male reproductive gland actually originates in the same Greek word, but it did not have that meaning in Paul’s time!) Most literally it means, “the one who stands before” or “a front-rank-man,” or a “chief, leader, or ruler.” It could also mean “a protector, guard, champion.”
Prostátes was often the word used to refer to a patron who had clients. A patron was usually the father in an elite household who took care of people from the surrounding neighborhood. In turn, his clients were expected to show their support for him in various public ways. Sometimes women, mostly wealthy widows or business women, were also patrons.
Both of these words indicate Phoebe’s prominent role in a Christ community near Corinth.
How Are Diákonos and Próstatis Translated in Romans 16:1–2?
Let’s take a look at how translators have rendered these verses:
~ King James Version (KJV)
The archaic language of the King James Version uses the terms “servant” for diákonos and “succourer,” an older word for “helper,” for próstatis.
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
How would you see Phoebe based on this translation?
~ New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
The New American Bible is a translation by critical scholars of the Catholic Biblical Association. The Revised Edition is the translation for the lectionary many Roman Catholics hear at their masses in the United States and some other English-speaking countries.
I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is [also] a minister of the church at Cenchreae, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the holy ones, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a benefactor to many and to me as well.
What picture of Phoebe do you think is formed by translating her roles as “minister” and “benefactor”?
~ New International Version (NIV)
The New International Version originated in a joint project of the Christian Reformed Church and the National Association of Evangelicals. The NIV is a translation from the original languages by a team of scholars from various evangelical denominations. They chose “deacon” and “benefactor” for the words that identify Phoebe’s roles.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
~ New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
The NRSV is a translation from original texts published by the National Council of Churches. The translation team included Orthodox, Catholic, Jewish, and a variety of Protestant Christian scholars working from manuscripts in the original languages. NRSV translators chose the same words to translate Phoebe’s roles as the NIV team.
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church at Cenchreae, so that you may welcome her in the Lord as is fitting for the saints, and help her in whatever she may require from you, for she has been a benefactor of many and of myself as well.
How do you picture Phoebe as a “deacon” and “benefactor”?
~ The Living Bible
The Living Bible is a paraphrase based on other translations. It is not a translation from the original languages. It is one individual’s effort to make the Bible easily understandable. It should be seen, then, as Kenneth N. Taylor’s interpretation. Notice how he paraphrases these verses.
Notice what happens to Phoebe’s role as diákonos. She is portrayed as a “hard worker” in the church. What happens to próstatis? She is, commendably, the helper of many, but does that convey the full meaning or authority of her role?
Phoebe, a dear Christian woman from the town of Cenchreae, will be coming to see you soon. She has worked hard in the church there. Receive her as your sister in the Lord, giving her a warm Christian welcome. Help her in every way you can, for she has helped many in their needs, including me.
How do you think he sees Phoebe? Does he portray her as a prominent leader?
~ The Message
The Message is another paraphrase by an individual, but Eugene H. Peterson started from the original languages and consulted with a translation team. How would you envision her as “a key representative”?
Be sure to welcome our friend Phoebe in the way of the Master, with all the generous hospitality we Christians are famous for. I heartily endorse both her and her work. She’s a key representative of the church at Cenchrea. Help her out in whatever she asks. She deserves anything you can do for her. She’s helped many a person, including me.
~ Scholars’ Version (SV)
The Scholars’ Version translations of early Christ group texts reflect the work of small teams of Westar Institute scholars. The translations attempt to render the original Greek to reflect the original language in understandable modern English that avoids churchy or liturgical language.
I recommend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a leader of the Anointed’s people in Cenchreae, in the hope that you will cordially welcome her as one who belongs to the lord, in a manner worthy of the Anointed’s people; and that you will assist her in whatever undertaking for which she may need your help, because she has provided help to many people, including myself.
How do you picture Phoebe as “a leader” who “has provided help”?
~ Young’s Literal Translation
A translation by an individual working from original languages published in 1862 uses words for Phoebe’s roles that emphasize her importance. What image of Phoebe does Robert Young’s translation convey?
And I commend you to Phebe our sister—being a ministrant of the assembly that [is] in Cenchrea—that ye may receive her in the Lord, as doth become saints, and may assist her in whatever matter she may have need of you—for she also became a leader of many, and of myself.
Was Phoebe a Leader or a Helper?
These various translations show that translators bring their own assumptions to their word choices. We might wonder whether some of the translators simply could not imagine a woman having a powerful position in the community.
Do you notice how few translators appear to have considered the powerful role indicated in the Greek word próstatis? Many envision a supportive and helpful role, not a role that evokes the image of a leader or even ruler. Some choose “benefactor” as an aspect of the word’s meaning as “patron,” rather than the more commanding aspects of the patron’s role.
To envision Phoebe in the roles Paul mentions in Romans 16:1–2, we need to imagine her as a woman of enough means to assist others, a woman who commands respect in the Christ community as well as Paul’s respect. Paul recommends her to the community at Rome as a leader from the Christ groups near Corinth. He emphasizes her importance in ways that many translations diminish.
Translations matter.
Check other translations, too. For a tool to compare some other Bible translations, see the Bible Gateway tool. (This link will access Romans 16:1–2 in the KJV. Menus give access to other translations.)
See the Perseus Digital Library for online access to the Liddell Scott Jones Greek lexicon (LSJ) and its abbreviated form (Middle Liddell). These links will access the Greek words: διάκονος and προστάτης.
For the Scholars Version translation of Paul’s own letters, see:
