Who Was Phoebe in Romans 16? A Commended Servant
Paul commends Phoebe to the Roman believers as a sister and a servant of the assembly at Cenchreae, asking them to receive her worthily and help her. Her mention opens a long list of named coworkers that shows the gospel work as shared labor.
House churches in the first-century Roman world: A Biblical Guide
Romans 16:3–16 greets a network of believers who met in homes, revealing that early congregations depended on ordinary hosts and a diverse team of co-workers rather than a single pastor.