Once upon a time an address book was a favourite item to give as a small Christmas present or birthday gift. These days most people have information about their friend’s addresses, phone numbers or email information on their mobile phones or computers. I guess address books may have become a thing of the past. Can you imagine what you might have done if you had lived in the first century and you wanted to make a list of your friends plus some information about them? Obviously there were no address books, mobile phones or computers. Do you know what the apostle Paul did? He made a list of his friends, most of them lesser known friends, in the concluding Chapter (16) of his letter to the Romans. This was ingenious, because in those difficult days other believers got to know who some of Paul’s special friends were.
Heading his list is a lady called Phoebe whose name means; ‘pure or radiant as the moon’. Someone has called her; ‘the woman who wore the badge of kindness’. What a lovely description! She obviously lived in Cenchrea and was a member of the local church in that port city (Romans 16 : 1) The name of the city might ring a bell with you. It was while Paul was at Cenchrea that he took a vow and had his hair cut off (Acts 18: 18). Not only was Phoebe a member of the church in Cenchrea but she also served the Lord in this local church. Paul describes her in verse two as; ‘a helper of many’, including himself. The Amplified New Testament sheds a little bit of light on this description by adding the following phrase at the end of verse two; ‘shielding us from suffering’. This paints a picture of her caring for the sick, the poor, strangers who may have arrived at the church looking for help and even visiting those who were in prison.
But why did Paul find it necessary to commend her to the church at Rome (v12)? He is also very specific about what they should do for her; (a) receive her in the Lord with a Christian welcome, and (b) help her in whatever matter she might need some assistance with. Paul had no hesitation about giving the Christians in Rome these instructions concerning her. She was a lady of considerable Christian standing. But why did Paul find it necessary to commend her to the believers in Rome? Well, first of all she was obviously going to Rome, as indicated by the opening words of verse two ‘….that you may receive her…’ He wanted them to welcome her. She must have been a woman of means to have the money to pay for such a journey. A look at a New Testament map will show you that Cenchrea, the port city of ancient Corinth, was in Greece while Rome was in Italy — a considerable sea journey. She may have been going there on business.
However, there was another very important reason why Paul commended Phoebe to the church at Rome. It was Phoebe who carried Paul’s masterful letter to the believers in that great city! And as Dr. Wiersbe observes, “Never did a messenger carry a more important letter!” So, it was necessary for Paul to commend her so that the Christians in Rome would know that the letter was genuine.
Wouldn’t it be good to have someone like Phoebe in your church Fellowship. You could be that person!