1 Cor 9,5: The Women of the Apostles 361 equivalent of “sister” in 9,5 (43). In addition, the “sister-wife/woman” was “not necessarily the conjugal mate of one’s pre-conversion life” according to Margaret MacDonald (44). She notes that one cannot be certain about the relationship since gunhv can mean “woman” and not “wife” (45). In the case of 1 Cor 1,1 Sosthenes is “the brother”. Timothy is “the brother” in 2 Cor 1,1 and Phlm 1,1. It is clear that Timothy was a fellow worker with Paul (Rom 16,21 oJ sunergov" — to take only one example). Presumably Sosthenes was also. These brothers are “assistants in mission”. The more difficult question is: Can the word itself bear that meaning? It is undisputed that it can mean fellow Christians (as in Rom 1,13 etc.) (46). In the cases mentioned above it could have the sense “brother” (as a sort of title), but may refer to an individual who is a missionary assistant (47). Only the larger context makes the reference certain. The use of “sister” in Rom 16,1 is of equal importance. The context indicates that she is a “diakonos” (diavkonon) of the church in Cenchrae and helper or benefactor of Paul (Rom 16,2 prostavti"). Since Paul is willing to use the same word (diakonos) for himself (1 Cor 3,5; 2 Cor 3,6; 6,4; 11,23) and even for Christ (Rom 15,8), it seems unnecessary to restrict Phoebe’s role to “material support” of the church in Cenchrae. Again it is the context that shows that the reference of “sister” in Phoebe’s case is to a missionary assistant of Paul. MacDonald notes that Phoebe (Rom 16,1-2) was clearly a benefactor of Paul himself, and that the title “sister” in her case is the same as that used for missionary partners in 1 Cor 9,5 (48). On the other hand, the use of “sister” in Phlm 2 for Apphia may be “sister as fellow Christian”. (43) D’ANGELO, “Women Partners”, 74, 79. (44) MACDONALD, “Was Celsus Right?”, 163. (45) M.Y. MACDONALD, “Reading Real Women through the Undisputed Letters of Paul”, Women & Christian Origins (eds. R.S. KRAEMER and M.R. D’ANGELO) (New York – Oxford 1999) 199-220, esp. 202. (46) BAGD s.v. § 2. (47) See BALDINGER, Semantic Theory, 3-7, 246 for the distinction between sense and reference (using similar terminology). The classic example is: “evening star” and “morning star” have different senses but the same reference. In 1 Thess 3,2 (“brother”) Timothy is “our fellow worker in the gospel of Christ”. (48) MACDONALD, “Was Celsus Right?”, 166. She compares the usage to “brother” for Paul’s partner Timothy in 2 Cor 1,1; Phlm 1, and 1 Thess 3,2. See also her discussion of “sister” for a missionary partner in “Reading”, 206 (and the partnership in Rom 16,15).