A SERVANT — one who waits at table, and then any agent or go-between; the root of 'deacon' and of the whole vocabulary of Christian service (diakonia, ministry). It is used of civil authorities (Romans 13:4), of Paul himself, of Christ, and of PHOEBE, 'a diakonos of the congregation at Cenchreae' (Romans 16:1), whom the versions variously make a 'servant', a 'deaconess' or a 'deacon' — the same Greek word they render 'minister' when the referent is male. Paired with episkopos in Philippians 1:1 as one of the two named roles in the earliest congregations. → first discussed at Philippians 1:1