Deacon
“Servant, minister, helper”
Summary
An office in the early church, originating from the Greek word for servant or minister, associated with service to the poor and practical ministry alongside the teaching and oversight of elders.
☩Origin of the Office
The appointment of the Seven in Acts 6 is commonly regarded as the origin of the diaconate. When Hellenistic Jewish widows were neglected in the daily distribution, the apostles proposed that seven men 'full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom' be appointed to 'serve tables,' freeing the apostles for prayer and the ministry of the Word. Though these seven are not explicitly called deacons, their work is described using the same Greek root (diakonein).
☩Qualifications
Paul specifies qualifications for deacons: they must be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. They must first be tested, then serve if found blameless. They should be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and households well. The emphasis on character suitable for handling money and visiting the poor indicates their primary function as dispensers of alms.
☩Functions and Relationship to Bishops
Deacons appear as the correlative of bishops or overseers, mentioned together in Paul's greeting to Philippi. While bishops provided teaching and oversight, deacons rendered practical service—distributing alms, maintaining order at meetings, and caring for the poor. The diaconate was not originally a stepping-stone to the presbytery but a distinct ministry with its own 'good standing' before God.
☩Women Deacons
The 'women' mentioned in the qualifications for deacons likely refers to women deacons (deaconesses) rather than wives of male deacons. Phoebe is described as a 'servant' (diakonos) of the church at Cenchrea, possibly indicating she held this office. Female deacons served essential functions in caring for sick women and assisting at women's baptisms in a society where male ministers could not appropriately perform such duties.
Related Verses11 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Deacon," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. II (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.F. N. Peloubet & M. A. Peloubet (ed.), "Deacon," in Smith's Bible Dictionary (Porter & Coates, 1884).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Deacon," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).
- 4.James Hastings (ed.), "Deacon, Deaconess," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. I (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).