Review - Deacons Christ’s example leads us to serve one another Deacons needed when physical necessities become vital and time-critical Appointed deacons must have known reputations and capabilities: Spiritually minded Driven to dedicate time and energy to their work Have a practical knowledge of how to be good stewards

What are Deacons and What Do they Do? Terms and Definitions Primary responsibility of deacons

Deacon is Not a Translation A Transliteration diάkono => diakonos => Deacon Rarely used in Greek for a position (unlike ἐπίσκοπος – Overseer)

NT Occurrences of diάkono Used 29 (30) times in NT in 27 (28) verses (Greek source text dependent) 4 words (minister/servant/deacon/attendant) KJV (20/7/3/-) NKJV (17/10/3/-) ESV (7/18/3/1) NASB (7/19/3-) NIV (4/20/3/1)

diάkono defined Thayer: “one who executes the commands of another, especially a master; a servant, attendant, minister”

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper “Minister” Defined A minister is "one who acts upon the authority of another," from Old French menistre "servant, valet, member of a household staff, administrator… Political sense of "high officer of the state" is attested from 1620s, from notion of "service to the crown.“ Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper A minister is simply a servant with an emphasis on serving something higher

NT usages of diάkono Kings servant (Matthew 22:13) “Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot…” One who serves at table (John 2:5) “His mother said to the servants…”

Official representative of another NT usages of diάkono Official representative of another Of civil authority (Romans 13:4a) “for he is God's servant for your good.” Of the Devil (2 Corinthians 11:5) “So it is no surprise if his [the Devil’s] servants, also, disguise themselves…”

NT usages of diάkono One who sacrifices for others (Mark 10:43) But whoever would be great among you must be your servant…

General (Colossians 1:24b-25a) NT usages of diάkono A servant of churches Local (Romans 16:1) “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae…” General (Colossians 1:24b-25a) “I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God”

NT usages of diάkono A servant Of Christ (Colossians 1:7) “… from Epaphras our beloved fellow [bond]servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf…”

A servant Of God’s message NT usages of diάkono A servant Of God’s message New Testament (2 Corinthians 3:6) “…who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant…” Gospel (Ephesians 3:7) “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace…”

NT usages of diάkono Christ as servant (Romans 15:8) “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised”

Servant vs. Minister Translation philosophy is not always consistent! Minister inserted for those serving God, the gospel, and when referring to apostles Evangelist/preacher/apostle ≠ minister

Servant vs. Minister Evangelist/preacher/apostle refers to the specific individual’s work Minister refers to the fact that the work is a service rendered From the term itself: Epaphras is a minister/servant, Phoebe a servant/minister They both serve something / someone else; the service is not necessarily the same

diάkono as a specific role Phil 1:1 “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:” Separate role in association with another specific position (elders) Distinct role from saints in general

diάkono as a specific role 1 Timothy 3:8-13 Deacons, likewise… Specific position and requirements (like the elders) Transliteration used to emphasize the special sense of their role

Both a position and role Position – Characteristic, tested requirements / Individual recognition Role – captured within the definition of diάkono. (Deacon = servant/minister) A deacon who is not fulfilling the role for which he was appointed does not have the position (Not a title, but a work)

What does a deacon do? Unlimited flexibility not implied Exact responsibilities not specified Unlike the responsibilities of the overseer (Acts 20, 1 Peter 5) Acts 6:1ff implies physical care for needy “daily distribution” is closely related form of root for diάkono Unlimited flexibility not implied

Implied Duties of the Deacon Deacon’s sphere of work implied by the ways in which the related specialized noun (διακονία) and verb (διακονέω) form of the root for the specialized noun diάkono (Deacon) are used to focus on the physical needs of God’s people

Implied Duties of the Deacon Acts 11:29 “the disciples determined … to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.” Acts 12:25 “And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service…”

Implied Duties of the Deacon 2 Cor. 8:4 “begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints” 2 Cor. 9:1 “… it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints”

Implied Duties of the Deacon Matt. 25:44 “…when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?” Rom. 15:25-26 “I am going to Jerusalem bringing aid to the saints. For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor:

Implied Duties of the Deacon “It can hardly be doubted that the officers of the Ephesian ecclesia [church], who in 1 Timothy are called diakonoi, had for their work … chiefly, perhaps even exclusively, the help of a material kind which the poorer or more helpless members of the body received from the community at large.” F. J. A. Hort, “The Christian Ecclesia,” p. 209 – via Strauch

Implied Duties of the Deacon “It is difficult to account for the word, used thus absolutely in any other way… Ministration to the bodily wants of its needy members would be distinctive, and would obviously tally with the associations most familiar to Greek ears in connection with the word.” F. J. A. Hort, “The Christian Ecclesia,” p. 209 – via Strauch

Implied Duties of the Deacon Early church not concerned with buildings, grounds, corporations, or programs Early church concerned with the needs of its people The 21st century deacon must focus on the concerns of his 1st century predecessors Deacons serve people, not things!

Summary A deacon has a specific role of service within a congregation A deacon works within the physical realm to make sure that the physical needs of the saints are met A deacon must never let concern for things distract from his concern for people.

Pray for our efforts to appoint deacons