A Short Note on Romans 16:1-2 “Phoebe a Patroness”
Here is my translation of Romans 16:1-2:
I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea[1] that you receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and help her in whatever matter she may have need of you, for she was a patron (prostatis) of many and even me.
Most versions of the bible do not translate the Greek word, prostatis, as patron, but as helper (NIV, KJV, NKJV, NAS, LV). NRSV uses the word, benefactor. The only version of which I know that uses the word, patron, is the ESV. As one can tell from my translation, I think patron is the best translation for prostatis, even if benefactor is a good alternative. Part of the confusion over this word is because it is a hapax legomena, that is, it is used only once in the New Testament. With the lack of other usages, it is harder to know the semantic range of a word. However, we can confirm that “patron” is the best translation, because there is a contemporary inscription honoring Junia Theodoria, who was a great patroness living in Corinth.[2] Line 77 of the inscription states that she has displayed her patronage (prostasia) to many. If this is the correct reading, the implications are great. First, Phoebe was Paul’s patroness to some degree. For this, she needs to be recognized, just as Paul has done in Romans 16:1-2. We also need to underline that she was a woman, a point, which is sometimes neglected in a male-dominated world of exegesis. Second, what makes Phoebe great is not so much that she was a patroness, since patrons and clients had a quid pro quo relationship in the ancient world, but because she was a servant.[3] She used her resources to benefit others with no thought of reciprocation. This is probably why Paul has to tell the church at Rome to receive her and help her in whatever she may need. They may not have known of her! Third, Phoebe offers an excellent example of what God calls people of wealth to do – use their wealth generously on others. In view of the example of Phoebe, I encourage those whom God has blessed to give generously for the work of God. What a privilege to do so.
[1] One of the port areas of Corinth.
[2] For the full text, see: R. A. Kearsley. “Women in Public Life in the Roman East: Iunia Theodora, Claudia Metrodora and Pheobe, Benefactress of Paul” TynB 50:189-211.
[3] Patron/Client relationships: Ernst Badian. Foreign Clientelae 264-70 B.C. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000), Tim Cornell. Bread and Circuses: Euergetism and Municipal Patronage in Roman Italy (New York: Routledge, 2002).
Very interesting and illuminating. Thank you for the explanation. Insights regarding original languages and historical perspectives are valuable to those who may not have the resources to dig through texts. Certainly encouraging to know that someone with much wealth supported the work of the gospel even in a time when most likely prospects of financial return in Christian-themed ventures were not as lucrative as today – which legitimately or not can certainly be lucrative. In this light, economically speaking, I think it took even more courage for Phoebe to put the money where her mouth was and financially supported a fledgling group with a “new” religious message of self-denial, helping the poor, etc., when other wealthy people in her socio-economic circle may have thought such investments were utter foolishness with no hope of tangible/monetary return or increasing the fame/popularity of the patron (surely, the money that Phoebe gave wasn’t being used to promote her generosity).