deacon/minister/servant

Strong's Number: 1249
Def: One who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master. A servant, attendant, or minister

This term, in the noun and verb form (ie; one who serves, and serving), appears 104 times in the greek New Testament in 90 different verses. Only 4 of those references SEEM to be referencing an official or officer in the local congregation (the references in 1st Timothy Chapter 3).

The KJV translators used three words to translate diavkonoß; "minister" (as in ministering to a person’s needs), "servant" and "deacon." Of course "deacon" is not really a translation at all , but a "transliteration," a made-up word, used by the translators to give the word a meaning of thier own.

As I am sure you know, the concept of settting aside certain people to serve in the local congregation was first established in the Jerusalem Church in Acts Chapter 6;

"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." Acts 6:2-4 (KJV)

In Paul's 1st letter to Timothy we read;
"Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." 1st Timothy 3:8-13 (KJV)

Please note the phrase "office of a deacon" this concept is NOT IN THE ORIGINAL GREEK
TEXT." In my opinion (and please feel free to do your own research on this) the passage would be more accurately translated;

"Likewise must those who serve be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them serve, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let those who serve be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have served well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus."

This more accurately applies the teachings of Jesus concerning being a servant;

"But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:25-28 (KJV)

I point out this and other transliterations to help you get a CLEARER UNDERSTANDING of the Word, not colored by the bias of the translators, no matter how well thier bias is accepted in today's Church.

~peace~