Phoebe appears once in Paul’s letter to the Romans, (16:1) where she is referred to as both a deacon in the church at Cenchreae, near Corinth, and a benefactor of Paul and others.

The fact that Paul commends her to the Roman church at the end of the letter suggests the possibility that she was the messenger, which would speak highly of Paul’s trust in her. There may even have been more to her mission, as Paul commands the Christians in Rome to …