Bit ‘o Greek
Nathanael Szobody on When doing a little research for my dad in Acts chapter 6 I read the first part through verse 7 where the apostles appointed men to oversee the distribution of bread so that they could concentrate on the service of the word and prayer. This is often said to be where the deaconate was established.
However the word ‘diakonos’, meaning ‘servant’, is never used in this passage. It’s cognates ‘diakonew’ (to serve) and ‘diakonia’ (service) are used. Steven and his pals were to ‘diakoneiv’ the tables (v.2). And the Apostles were to give themselves to the ‘diakonia’ of the word (v.4). Also, in verse one, the service of the tables is called the ‘diakonia’.
So if both the service of tables and the service of the Word are ‘diakoniai’ then why are only the servers of tables called deacons? Why aren’t elders rather called deacons as well and the deaconate split into two branches; physical service and the service of the Word? Both of them do service of intercession.
Comments ( 4 )
Umm, would you mind sending me an email, or dropping a comment here reminding me of what I volunteered to do?
but if you want to do any word searches on either 'proseuxn' or 'diakonew' and their cognates that could shed more light.
Actually, in all honesty I believe that there is no real answer to your above questions re:the text concerning the deaconate, and various sides of the debate that I found (thru my research) to be thrown the terms and bible proofs- texts at each other. I would try to answer this question, but there are some problems with the questions themselves. I'll address a few issues:
1)I believe that the term diakonw is frequently employed in many other senses in the NT and LXX. To compose a theology from a word is always troublesome (lexigraphical tyranny-We can discuss this term at another time more in depth)
2)The word "diakonw" in the apostles day simply meant service, there is was not yet any office titled "deacon". The article anachroistically appilies our conception of the "deacon" unto the Acts narrative.
3)As an answer, the deaconate is eventually split into two branches. Later a distintion will be made between deacon and esisokos (see 1 Timothy 3 I believe)--or overseer. The overseer will become elders, priests, and bishops--I have found that there is much fruitless debate of the intricacies of the two terms.
4)Even deacons of the table preached in Acts,look at Stephens speech in Acts 7. They didn't have the hierarchical structure that we have, but enjoyed a sort of Gospel-flexibility that I feel we have lost today (to the greater pain of the church).
5)I have never heard or read for that matter; of the service of the intercession. Please expand on this term in more detail, so that I may better understand.
I have spent much time researching this and I apologize for the bad and poor answers given in my text above in support of my feelings, but I would be most interested in knowing what you and Joseph found in your own research. Please do share those findings.
Thanks for giving me a most stimulating project to research--I enjoy the challenge even if my research comes to a dead end with no particular answer to the questions.