Deaconess
The word diakonos is found in (Romans 16:1) (Authorized Version “servant”) associated with a female name, and this has led to the conclusion that there existed in the apostolic age, as there undoubtedly did a little later, an order of women bearing that title, and exercising in relation to their own sex functions which were analogous to those of the deacons. On this hypothesis it has been inferred that the women mentioned in (Romans 16:6,12) belonged to such an order.
The rules given as to the conduct of women in (1 Timothy 3:11; Titus 2:3) have in like manner been referred to them, and they have been identified even with the “widows” of (1 Timothy 5:3-10)
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Deaconess
See Wohah. DEAOIiT haa now only an active meaning, 'cansing death'; but formerly was passive also, 'subject to death.' Thus Wyclif's tr. of 1 Co 15" Is, ' r or it byhoueth this corruptible thing to clothe vncorrupcioun, and this deedli thing to putte awei vndeedlinesse. ' Wyclif has 'deadly in all passages in which AV has ' mortal ' (except that in Job 4" he omits the adj.), as well as often elsewhere, as He 7' ' heere deedi men taken tithi.s,' Ja 5" ' Elye was a deedli man lijk vs.' In AV d. occurs in this sense Rev IS*-" 'his d. wound was healed' (rXriyri rod daiirov, RV ' death-stroke ') ; and as an adv. Ezk 30»* ' a d. wounded man ' (S^n).
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Deaconess
Rom 16:1; "Phoebe, servant" (Greek text: "deaconess") of the church at Cenchrea." 1Ti 3:11; "even so (marking a transition to another class from deacons) must the women (i.e. the deaconesses) be grave," etc. Domestic duties are omitted, though specified in the case of the deacons (1Ti 3:12). The same qualifications are required in deaconesses as in deacons, with such modifications as the difference of sex suggested. Pliny in his letter to Trajan calls them "female ministers." The earliest instance of such female ministers (though of course not then formally appointed) is in Luk 8:2-3; "Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Susanna, and many others which ministered unto Him of their substance." The social seclusion of women from men in many parts of the East would render necessary the services of women in teaching those of their own sex. See WIDOWS; an ecclesiastical order of widowhood, a female presbytery, existed from those of at least 60 years old, standing in the same relation to the deaconesses of younger age (1Ti 5:9-11) that the male presbyters did to the deacons.
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia