Phoebe occupied a specific function or office in the church at Cenchreae, and Paul commends her to the brothers and sisters in Rome, describing her as a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well
(Romans 16:1–2). She was a diakonos, a female deacon, a helper or deaconess. Paul gives the impression that she still holds that office and that may suggest that she is travelling in her official capacity, perhaps to deliver the letter. We do not know what other tasks she had to perform in Rome. It is likely that they concerned support for those who laboured in the gospel, for she has earned her spurs in that respect. In any case, Paul calls on the church to assist her in her work in Rome as necessary. It is possible that Phoebe was an independent woman of substance (although Meggitt disputes this 1 ).
Phoebe is also assigned a special qualification. She was a prostatis to many people. This word is usually employed for a curator (that is, an administrator or trustee). However, in ancient times women could not undertake the task of a curator. As it happens, Prostatis is an honourable nickname for the goddess Phoebe. It is therefore possible that Paul is here making a humorous allusion to the goddess to say that Phoebe is a true Phoebe—a really caring person (See Van Bruggen2 )
Romans 16:1–27 in fact therefore does not begin with a greeting itself, but rather with an exhortation to greet someone. This is an exhortation to welcome Phoebe warmly when she comes. Phoebe is a new arrival, but there are also other newcomers who had arrived earlier. People in the church are also called to be on friendly terms with them.3
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae,