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Cenchrea, also spelled Cenchreae, is a significant location mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. It was one of the two ports of the ancient city of Corinth, situated on the eastern side of the Isthmus of Corinth, facing the Saronic Gulf. This port played a crucial role in the trade and commerce of the region, serving as a gateway for goods and travelers moving between the Aegean Sea and the western Mediterranean.

Biblical References:

Cenchrea is specifically mentioned in the New Testament in the context of the Apostle Paul's missionary journeys. InActs 18:18, it is recorded that Paul, after spending a considerable amount of time in Corinth, set sail for Syria from the port of Cenchrea. The passage states: "Paul stayed on in Corinth for quite some time before saying goodbye to the brothers. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken. Then he sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila" (Acts 18:18). This indicates that Cenchrea was a point of departure for Paul as he continued his missionary work, highlighting its importance as a travel hub in the ancient world.

Additionally, Cenchrea is mentioned inRomans 16:1, where Paul commends a woman named Phoebe, who was a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea. Paul writes: "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea" (Romans 16:1). This reference not only underscores the existence of a Christian community in Cenchrea but also highlights the role of women in the early church. Phoebe is noted for her service and is entrusted by Paul to deliver his letter to the Romans, indicating her significant standing within the Christian community.

Historical and Geographical Context:

Cenchrea was strategically located, providing Corinth with access to the eastern trade routes. The port was approximately 7 miles (11 kilometers) from Corinth, connected by a road that facilitated the movement of goods and people. The presence of a Christian church in Cenchrea, as mentioned in Romans, suggests that the early Christian message had reached this bustling port city, likely due to its active engagement in trade and the movement of diverse populations.

The port of Cenchrea was known for its temples and religious activities, typical of a Greco-Roman city. However, the presence of a Christian community indicates the spread of Christianity amidst a predominantly pagan environment. The mention of Phoebe as a deaconess reflects the organizational structure and the active participation of women in the early church, which was a distinctive feature of the Christian movement.

Cultural and Religious Significance:

Cenchrea's mention in the New Testament highlights the interconnectedness of early Christian communities across the Roman Empire. The port served as a conduit for the dissemination of the Gospel, facilitating the movement of missionaries like Paul and the exchange of letters and teachings among the early churches. The reference to Phoebe also emphasizes the role of lay leaders in the church, showcasing the diverse contributions of individuals to the growth and sustenance of the Christian faith.

In summary, Cenchrea holds a place of importance in the New Testament narrative as a key location in Paul's missionary activities and as a testament to the spread of Christianity in the first century. Its mention in the Scriptures provides insight into the dynamics of early Christian communities and the pivotal role of ports and trade routes in the propagation of the Gospel.Cenchrea or Cenchrea

(accuratelyCenchreae) (millet), the eastern harbor of Corinth (i.e. its harbor on the Saronic Gulf) and the emporium of its trade with the Asiatic shores of the Mediterranean, as Lechaeum on the Crointhian Gulf connected it with Italy and the west. St. Paul sailed from Cenchrae, (Acts 18:18) on his return to Syria from his second missionary journey. An organized church seems to have been formed here. (Romans 16:1)

2747. Kegchreai --Cenchrea, a port of Corinth
...Cenchrea, a port of Corinth. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: Kegchreai
Phonetic Spelling: (keng-khreh-a'-hee) Short Definition: Cenchreae...

Phoebe
... 'I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the Church that is at
Cenchrea: 2. That... To be a Christian atCenchrea can have been no light task....

Miscellaneous Subjects.
... "I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is
atCenchrea." The church atCenchrea was a local congregation or assembly....

Acts XVIII
... still remained for many days, bade the brethren farewell, and sailed into Syria,
and with him Priscilla and Aquila, having sheared his head inCenchrea; for he...

Acts XX
... Moreover, Gaius, who lived in Corinth, was his host at the time of writing to the
Romans; [485] and Phoebe, of the Corinthian seaportCenchrea, was the bearer...

The Epistles of Paul.
... Gaius mine host" (chap.16:23), a Corinthian whom he had baptized (1:Cor.1:14); he
commends to them Phebe, a deaconess of the church atCenchrea, the eastern...

Enumeration Ordained by Apostles.
... Aristo. Of Pergamus, Gaius. Of Philadelphia, Demetrius, by me. OfCenchrea,
Lucius, by Paul. Of Crete, Titus. Of Athens, Dionysius....

The Conversion of Apollos, his Character, and the Ministry of Paul...
... The Apostle "took his leave" [115:1] of the Corinthian brethren in the spring of
AD54, and embarking at the port ofCenchrea, about eight or nine miles distant...

Acts xviii. 18
... good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria,
and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head inCenchrea: for he...

Excursus on the Deaconess of the Early Church.
... by St. Paul in his Epistle to the Romans (xvi.1) where he speaks of Phoebe
as being a diakonos of the Church ofCenchrea. It moreover...

Paul's Epistles; his Collection for the Poor Saints at Jerusalem...
... "When the Jews laid wait for him as he was about to sail" fromCenchrea, the port
of Corinth, "into Syria," he found it expedient "to return through Macedonia...

Summary of the Book of Romans - Bible Survey | GotQuestions.org

What roles can women fill in ministry? | GotQuestions.org

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