Phoebe

Phoebe commended as a notable servant of the church.

“I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant (diakonon) of the assembly that is at Cenchreae,” (Romans 16:1)

The same Greek word “diakonon” (transliterated) only occurs in the other verse below:

“Now I say that Christ has been made a servant (diakonon) of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,” (Romans 15:8)

Note that the role of a “servant” (diakonon) is not a “leader” which is signified by different words in Greek most notably:

“17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders (presbyterous) of the church.” (Acts 20:17)

The fact that only “men” were allowed to hold the two positions of “leadership” as mentioned by apostle Paul to Timothy may be seen literally from the verses below:

“it behoveth, therefore, the overseer (episkopon in Greek; bishop in English) to be blameless, of one wife a husband, vigilant, sober, decent, a friend of strangers, apt to teach,” (1 Timothy 3:2)

Note that in the verse above, being a “husband” of one wife proves that a bishop may only be a “man”.

Similarly, the verse below proves that a deacon must be a “man” evidenced by the phrase “husband” of one wife:

“Ministrants (diakonoi in Greek; deacon in English) — let them be of one wife husbands; the children leading well, and their own houses,” (1 Timothy 3:12)

Also, we find all this in agreement with the simple instruction by apostle Paul below:

“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.” (1 Timothy 2:12)

And here too:

“Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.”                          (1 Corinthians 14:34)

My point here is this:

The Bible is “literally” true and clear about the order of the church (assembly) with respect to men and women without the interpretations and false teachings of cunning people who “twist” it otherwise.

Don’t be deceived (literally).