Phoebe, deacon and patron

I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a deacon of the church at Cenchreae... for she has been a benefactor of many, and of myself as well. Paul entrusted the letter to the Romans — the most theologically weighty letter in the canon — to her hand.

Romans 16:1–2 names Phoebe as diakonos (deacon) of the church at Cenchreae and prostatis (patron, benefactor, or protector) of many including Paul. The word prostatis in Greek legal usage means someone with social standing and financial authority over a client — it is not a servile term. Paul is commending her as the letter-bearer, which in the first-century context carried the responsibility of reading the letter aloud and answering questions about its meaning. Romans — Paul's densest theological work — was first expounded to the Roman churches by Phoebe.