although Bockmuehl suggests that the role of overseer, in so far as it exists at this stage, cannot confidently be distinguished from that of deacon.35 We may simply deduce from Phil. 1:1 that there was an identifiable group known both to the writers and recipients of the letter as ‘overseers’. Paul provides no details about their role, which has prompted the unnecessary conclusion that there was no formalized role at this stage. Such a deduction plainly cannot be drawn simply from the absence of