Verse 1 A servant of the church. A class of female officers is supposed to have existed in the early Christian church. The name here translated servant corresponds to the word deaconess.--Cenchrea. This was the eastern port of Corinth,--that is, the one communicating with the Egean Sea,--and was at a distance of a few miles from the city. The mention of Phebe as the bearer of the Epistle, confirms the supposition that this Epistle was written while Paul was at Corinth.