Deacons as Deacons as ServantsServants

DefinitionsDefinitions

Three cognate words:Three cognate words: aa diakoneodiakoneo—to serve, to wait on, to —to serve, to wait on, to

minister tominister to

bb diakoniadiakonia—service, ministry—service, ministry

cc diakonosdiakonos—servant, minister, —servant, minister, deacondeacon

Applied to a master’s Applied to a master’s servants:servants:

aa Parable: Luke 17:8Parable: Luke 17:8— Will he not rather say to — Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and properly, and serveserve me while I eat and drink, and me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?afterward you will eat and drink’?

acac John 12:26John 12:26— If anyone — If anyone servesserves me, he must me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my follow me; and where I am, there will my servantservant be also. If anyone be also. If anyone servesserves me, the Father will me, the Father will honor him.honor him.

cc John 2:5John 2:5— His mother said to the — His mother said to the servantsservants, , “Do whatever he tells you.”“Do whatever he tells you.”

cc John 2:9John 2:9— When the master of the feast tasted — When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the where it came from (though the servantsservants who who had drawn the water knew), the master of the had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroomfeast called the bridegroom

Applied to Christ:Applied to Christ: aa Matt. 20:28Matt. 20:28—even as the Son of Man came not to be —even as the Son of Man came not to be

servedserved but to but to serveserve, and to give his life as a ransom for , and to give his life as a ransom for many.many.

aa Mark 10:45Mark 10:45—For even the Son of Man came not to be —For even the Son of Man came not to be servedserved but to but to serveserve, and to give his life as a ransom for , and to give his life as a ransom for many.many.

aa The master in a parable: The master in a parable: Luke 12:37Luke 12:37—Blessed are —Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and and have them recline at table, and he will come and serveserve them. them.

aa Luke 22:26-27Luke 22:26-27— 26 But not so with you. Rather, let — 26 But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who leader as one who servesserves. 27 For who is the greater, one . 27 For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who who reclines at table or one who servesserves? Is it not the one ? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who servesserves..

cc Rom. 15:8Rom. 15:8— For I tell you that Christ became a — For I tell you that Christ became a servantservant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs,

Applied to angels:Applied to angels:

aa Matt. 4:11Matt. 4:11— Then the devil left him, — Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were and behold, angels came and were ministeringministering to him. to him.

aa Mark 1:13Mark 1:13— And he was in the — And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were and the angels were ministeringministering to him. to him.

bb Heb. 1:14Heb. 1:14— Are they not all ministering — Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to spirits sent out to serveserve for the sake of for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?those who are to inherit salvation?

Applied to apostles:Applied to apostles:

bb Acts 1:17Acts 1:17— For he was numbered — For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in among us and was allotted his share in this this ministryministry..

bb Acts 1:25Acts 1:25— — 24 24 And they prayed and said, And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have show which one of these two you have chosen chosen 25 25 to take the place in this to take the place in this ministryministry and apostleship from which Judas turned and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.”aside to go to his own place.”

Applied to Paul:Applied to Paul: aa 2 Cor. 3:32 Cor. 3:3—And you show that you are a letter —And you show that you are a letter

from Christ from Christ delivereddelivered by us, written not with ink by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

bb Acts 20:24Acts 20:24— But I do not account my life of any — But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the my course and the ministryministry that I received from that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.of God.

bb Acts 21:19Acts 21:19— After greeting them, he related — After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his the Gentiles through his ministryministry..

bb Rom. 11:13Rom. 11:13— Now I am speaking to you — Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my Gentiles, I magnify my ministryministry

Applied to Paul (cont.):Applied to Paul (cont.): bb 2 Cor. 4:12 Cor. 4:1—Therefore, having this —Therefore, having this ministryministry by by

the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. bb 2 Cor. 5:182 Cor. 5:18—All this is from God, who through —All this is from God, who through

Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministryministry of reconciliation; of reconciliation;

bb 2 Cor. 6:32 Cor. 6:3—We put no obstacle in anyone's way, —We put no obstacle in anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our so that no fault may be found with our ministryministry,,

bb 2 Cor. 11:82 Cor. 11:8—I robbed other churches by —I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to accepting support from them in order to serveserve you. you.

bb 1 Tim. 1:121 Tim. 1:12—I thank him who has given me —I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his me faithful, appointing me to his serviceservice,,

Applied to Paul (cont.):Applied to Paul (cont.): cc 2 Cor. 3:62 Cor. 3:6—who has made us competent to be —who has made us competent to be

ministersministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

cc 2 Cor. 6:42 Cor. 6:4—but as —but as servantsservants of God we commend of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,afflictions, hardships, calamities,

cc Eph. 3:7Eph. 3:7— Of this gospel I was made a — Of this gospel I was made a ministerminister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.me by the working of his power.

cc Col. 1:23Col. 1:23— if indeed you continue in the faith, — if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a which I, Paul, became a ministerminister..

cc Col. 1:25Col. 1:25— of which I became a — of which I became a ministerminister according to the stewardship from God that was according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,known,

Applied to Paul’s Applied to Paul’s helpers:helpers:

aa ErastusErastus: Acts 19:22 : Acts 19:22 aa OnesimusOnesimus: Philm. 13 : Philm. 13 bb MarkMark: 2 Tim. 4:11 : 2 Tim. 4:11 abcabc TimothyTimothy: Acts 19:22; 2 Tim. 4:5; : Acts 19:22; 2 Tim. 4:5;

1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Tim. 4:6 1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Tim. 4:6 cc ApollosApollos: 1 Cor. 3:5 : 1 Cor. 3:5 cc TychicusTychicus: Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7 : Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7 cc EpaphrasEpaphras: Col. 1:7 : Col. 1:7

Applied to Applied to Preaching and Teaching:Preaching and Teaching:

bb Apostles: Acts 6:4Apostles: Acts 6:4— But we will — But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to devote ourselves to prayer and to the the ministryministry of the word. of the word.

Applied to those who help Applied to those who help fellow saints:fellow saints:

aa Hebrew Christians: Heb. 6:10Hebrew Christians: Heb. 6:10— For — For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work God is not so unjust as to overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in and the love that you showed for his sake in servingserving the saints, as you still do. the saints, as you still do.

bb Household of Stephanas: 1 Cor. 16:15Household of Stephanas: 1 Cor. 16:15—Now I urge you, brothers—you know that —Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the devoted themselves to the serviceservice of the of the saints—saints—

bb Archippus: Col. 4:17Archippus: Col. 4:17— And say to — And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministryministry that you have received in the Lord.”that you have received in the Lord.”

Applied to Christians Applied to Christians with a gift of service:with a gift of service:

aa 1 Pet. 4:10-121 Pet. 4:10-12—As each has received a —As each has received a gift, use it to gift, use it to serveserve one another, as good one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever whoever servesserves, as [one who serves] by , as [one who serves] by the strength that God supplies—in order the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

bb Rom. 12:7Rom. 12:7— if — if serviceservice, in our , in our servingserving; ; the one who teaches, in his teaching;the one who teaches, in his teaching;

bb 1 Cor. 12:51 Cor. 12:5—and there are varieties of —and there are varieties of serviceservice, but the same Lord;, but the same Lord;

Applied to the workApplied to the work of all Christians: of all Christians:

bb Eph. 4:12Eph. 4:12— to equip the saints for the work — to equip the saints for the work of of ministryministry, for building up the body of Christ,, for building up the body of Christ,

bb Rev. 2:19Rev. 2:19— “‘I know your works, your love — “‘I know your works, your love and faith and and faith and serviceservice and patient endurance, and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.and that your latter works exceed the first.

cc Matt. 20:26Matt. 20:26— It shall not be so among you. — It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must But whoever would be great among you must be your be your servantservant,,

cc parable: Matt. 22:13parable: Matt. 22:13— Then the king said to — Then the king said to the the attendantsattendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and , ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

cc Matt. 23:11Matt. 23:11— The greatest among you shall — The greatest among you shall be your be your servantservant..

cc Also Also Mark 9:35; 10:43; John 12:26Mark 9:35; 10:43; John 12:26

Applied to Applied to taking money to help:taking money to help:

aa Rom. 15: 25; 2 Cor. 8:19-20Rom. 15: 25; 2 Cor. 8:19-20 bb Acts 11:29; 12:25; Rom. 15:31;Acts 11:29; 12:25; Rom. 15:31;

2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12-13 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12-13

Applied to Applied to helping those in prison:helping those in prison:

a Matt. 25:44— Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’

Applied to women:Applied to women:

aa Peter’s mother-in-law: Matt. Peter’s mother-in-law: Matt. 8:15; Mark 1:31; Luke 4:398:15; Mark 1:31; Luke 4:39

aa Women who followed Jesus: Women who followed Jesus: Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:41; Luke Matt. 27:55; Mark 15:41; Luke 8:2-38:2-3

abab Martha: Luke 10:40; John 12:2Martha: Luke 10:40; John 12:2 cc Phoebe: Rom. 16:1Phoebe: Rom. 16:1— I commend — I commend

to you our sister Phoebe, a to you our sister Phoebe, a servantservant of of the church at Cenchreae, the church at Cenchreae,

Applied to Applied to the Seven at Jerusalem:the Seven at Jerusalem:

aa Acts 6:2Acts 6:2— And the twelve summoned — And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to preaching the word of God to serveserve tables.”tables.”

bb Acts 6:1Acts 6:1— Now in these days when the — Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily being neglected in the daily distributiondistribution..

Applied to deacons:Applied to deacons: aa 1 Tim. 3:101 Tim. 3:10—And let them also be tested first; —And let them also be tested first;

then let them then let them serve as deaconsserve as deacons if they prove if they prove themselves blameless.themselves blameless.

aa 1 Tim. 3:131 Tim. 3:13—For those who —For those who serveserve well well as as deaconsdeacons gain a good standing for themselves gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.Christ Jesus.

cc Phil. 1:1Phil. 1:1— Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ — Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and Philippi, with the overseers and deaconsdeacons: :

cc 1 Tim. 3:81 Tim. 3:8——DeaconsDeacons likewise must be likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,  not addicted to dignified, not double-tongued,  not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.

cc 1 Tim. 3:121 Tim. 3:12—Let —Let deaconsdeacons each be the each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.their own households well.

QuestionsQuestions

Should deacons be appointed only Should deacons be appointed only when there is a specific task to be when there is a specific task to be done?done?

Is it proper simply to appoint deacons Is it proper simply to appoint deacons to have a scripturally organized to have a scripturally organized church even if there is no specific task church even if there is no specific task for the deacons?for the deacons?

Should deacons be viewed as a kind Should deacons be viewed as a kind of junior elders, or elders in training?of junior elders, or elders in training?