DEACONS
Greek Definition
diakonos meaning
servant, minister, raising dust in service, one who follows commands
diakoneo meaning to
act as a servant (term office is not in the Greek)
Scripture Reference
1.
Acts 6:1-7
Verse
1:
a.
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied (plethuno)”
- (plethuno meaning to increase i.e., Acts 1:15 “120”; Acts 2:41
“3,000”; Acts 2:47 “daily added”; Acts 4:5 “5,000 men”; Acts 4:32 “multitudes;
Acts 5:14 “multitudes.”
b.
“there arose (ginomai) a murmuring (gonguzo)” –
ginomai meaning lie a storm begins and increases; gonguzo meaning
to speak in a low tone, mutter, grumble and this buzzing was done by the
Grecian widows, their families and friends.
c.
“of the Grecians against the Hebrews” – Grecians were Hellenist Jews
who were from outside of Palestine; Hebrews were Palestinian Jews; Problems
were among classes, races, and personalities resulting primarily from
prejudices.
d.
“because their widows wee neglected” - chera meaning widows: in
the early church, the families were to take care of widows but if no family,
then the church was responsible and this was a carryover from Jewish customs.
paratheorea
e.
meaning to overlook. The first internal problems of the early church
were women and money.
f.
“in the daily ministration.” – kathemerinos meaning day by day;
diakonia meaning service or ministry. This was primarily a ministry of
sharing money and/or food with the widows as in Acts 6:2 “tables” and “common
fund” of Acts 4:32-37. But I could include any neglect of needed members
among the widows in the church.
Verse
2:
a.
“Then the twelve called the multitude of disciples unto them” –
multitude of disciples meant the whole church. Whenever there was business
that involved the entire church all disciples were called together.
b.
“and said, It is not reason” – arestos meaning to please or to
agree.
c.
“that we should leave the word of God” – We meaning specifically the
apostles but would apply to the leading ministers who were to become
pastors/bishops/elders.
d.
“and serve tables.” – diakoneo meaning to serve or minister;
trapeze used in common distribution of daily food and or money, which is a
reference to v1 “daily ministration.”
Verse
3:
a.
“Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you” – episkeptomai
meaning to look out for; among you meant from within the congregation in the
early church.
b.
“seven men” - This is a perfect number in the Scripture. This was in
proportion to the number of disciples and duties of service and ministry.
(120+3,000+5,00, etc.)
c.
“of honest report” - martureo meaning good testimony and
witness.
d.
“full of the Holy Ghost” - pleres meaning to be filled to
capacity; The Holy Ghost was to be the controlling person in their lives.
e.
“full of wisdom” – sophia meaning spiritual insight and
knowledge which is a gift of the Spirit.
f.
“whom we may appoint” – kathistemi meaning to set, designate.
g.
“over this business” – chreia meaning necessity, need,
particular service, an affair which is held to be necessary; These minister’s
helpers in the early church primarily served among the sick, poor and
strangers.
Verse
4:
a.
“But we will give ourselves continually” – proskartereo meaning
to be strong towards, to endure, to be stedfast.
b.
“(continually) to prayer” – proseuche meaning pouring out to
God; personal and intercessory, church family, home; believing prayer that all
things are possible.
c.
“(continually) to ministry of the word” – diakonia meaning
service; logos meaning preaching, teaching, training, equipping and
exhortation, etc.
Verse
5:
a.
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude” – areskomeaning
acceptable.
b.
“and they chose” – eklego meaning to select or pick out, to
choose for oneself, indicating congregational participation.
c.
“Stephen a man full of the Holy Ghost” – Stephen in the Greek is crown;
pleres meaning being filled to capacity; pistis meaning faith,
faithfulness, steadfastness, conviction; believing action; (V8: “Stephen, full
of faith and power did great wonders and miracles. And in Acts 7 Stephen
preached and witnessed even unto death being the first martyr for Christ with
James being the first apostle martyr according to Acts 12:2)
d.
“and Philip” – Acts 6:5; 8:5-40; 21:8 “Preached, cast out unclean
spirits, healed the sick, witnessed, taught, baptized, miracles and signs.
Verse
6:
a.
“Whom they set before the apostles” – histemi meaning to place
or put
b.
“and when they had prayed” – proseuchomai meaning to talk with
God.
c.
“they laid their hands upon them” epitithemi meaning to put on
or place upon the seven servants.
Verse
7:
a.
“And the word of God increased” The ministry of the logos
including preaching, teaching, training and equipping;
b.
auxano meaning kept on growing.
c.
“and the number” – arithmos meaning number; the early church had
kept a balance between numerical and spiritual growth.
d.
“of the disciples” – mathetes meaning learners, trained ones,
taught ones.
e.
“multiplied greatly in Jerusalem” – plethuno meaning increased;
sphodra exceedingly, excessive.
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