If the church has mediocre leaders, it will become a mediocre church. He further states, "like the Latin, minstrare, to wait at table and offer food and drink to guests. Churches who have such deacons will be blessed indeed. The pastor and the church must be careful in setting the position within the biblical example and make sure that it is never changed. Elmer Towns, Theology for Today, Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994, p492. There is no example in the New Testament of an appointed servant functioning as ruling person or having authority in the church over the pastor or church. deacons in the Black Church Cost purchase as a book or e-book Suggested Uses Train and support deacons by sharing this resource with lay leaders. All else which has been made of the laying on of hands is an invention. In closing, I can find no scriptural precedent for a church to misuse or misapply the ministry of specially appointed servants (deacons) in the local church as many churches are doing today. For they that have used the office of a deacon (diakoneo - verb ) well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.". The misunderstanding would go away if we stopped using the word "deacon" and used the correct English word "servant." Some church members find it easier to get a deacon to agree with them and take their side in some disagreement involving the pastor. The author grants permission for copying for individual personal or church use only. This verse, too, can be properly translated, "If a man desire the ministry (or service) of a bishop, he desireth a good work." Using men unscripturally in this position tends to elevate them above the rest of the congregation. The emphasis in using the men in the church should not be that they are deacons, as any man in the church could be used without regard to whether they are deacons or not. This material so collected was distributed to those in need by a committee . 2:9), ones who have "purified your souls in obeying the truth" (1 Pet. If there was a hierarchy recognized in the Jerusalem church why did they not just take the matter to them? It is good to do these things openly so there is no question about honesty or unfairness with the use of church funds. The reason is there was no elder or Presbyterian type of rule in the early church. Although they are "servants" and their ministry is a ministry of service, the fact that they have been chosen demonstrates they are respected by the brethren. This view says if it works, then do it. There is no example or reference to an official diaconate (the office or period of office of a deacon) in New Testament church, that has authority or office over the local congregation. "9 However, if you understand that the word is correctly translated "servant" and not deaconess there is no problem. To spiritual men this is not a problem, but for many, it gives them the first taste of authority in the church. 3. Towns refers to 1 Timothy 3:1 and 3:11 as using the word "office" of a bishop and deacon respectively. Neither I, nor anyone else, have any authority to change in any way the church that He founded and built. In 1 Timothy 3, Paul further outlines the qualifications as he defines the responsibilities of the offices of Deacon and bishop. Oversee steps of correction, discipline, and restoration in the church. 2. Her position was of service not leadership. The laying on of hands is first mentioned in the Book of Leviticus. Note that in a comparison of the qualifications of bishops and deacons that the deacons qualifications have to do with service and not leadership. In the first church I pastured, I ran head-on into the situation where the deacons ran the pastor and the church. However, the word office can be used in another sense as "something that one ought to do or must do: an assigned or assumed duty, task, role, or the proper or customary action of something: FUNCTION: something done for another: SERVICE" (4.a-c, "office"). It is always proper in reading and interpreting the Word of God, to see if not elsewhere in the Bible the terms or things to be interpreted are used, so that through them the right meaning can be ascertained. Many times when the new pastor comes, the deacons are not always willing to relinquish their new-found prestige and position. The act of "laying on of hands" was merely a cultural oriental practice in which one would show his identification with or approval of the person on which he placed his hand. The use of appointed servants in the church is a part of the Lord's stated organization of a local church. Deacons are a special and separate role from elders, preachers and saints by virtue of their qualifications, selection and commendation. It is a poor leader who must go to his deacons and get them on his side before he attempts to bring a matter before his congregation. Their ministry was intended to aid the apostles by taking care of some of the physical needs of the congregation. However, I always qualify my reply by explaining that the word denotes a female "servant" and not an officer of the church. If the deacon board thought it a worthy idea, they would present it to the church, and it would pass without difficulty. 2. It will (should) be clear that they would function as the servants of the whole assembly, and once the new pastor is called and arrives; their services are terminated. Exegesis means taking the meaning from the text). Evidence of this can be seen in the New Testament example given in Acts 6:2, which states that the Twelve Disciples carried the matter to the congregation, and the congregation appointed them to the task that needed attention. This idea is not consistent with the biblical record. Deacons are not required to have the "ability to teach," although this does not preclude them from doing so. Ephesians 4:11) Note, deacons (servants) are not included. There is no reason to suppose these were "forerunners" of officials called "deacons" as Ryrie states. In 1 Timothy 3:10 and 13 the phrase, "use the office of a deacon," is translated from one Greek word "diakoneo", being a verb, which is properly translated "ministry" or "service of a servant," denoting the action of the verb. Merrill F. Unger and William White, Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, p443. He properly did it through their overseer whom he had placed to lead them. As stated earlier, the phrase, "let them use of office of a deacon," is only one word in the Koine Greek and can accurately be translated "let them serve (or minister) as servants." For example, if a modern church elected someone as "grounds keeper" we would not be making an official authoritative office in the church, but rather be giving a job description of the position and responsibility to which that the person was elected. Clearly, the word "diakoneo" would be better translated "let them serve (or minister) as servants." There is no reference in the New Testament of anyone being called or given the title of "deacon." One thing is clear: it is not the job of the deacon to rule the church. Often, instead of looking for men qualified to perform some specific task that needs to be done, men are chosen because of the social or economic status in the church or because the "earned" the honor. 3:10, diakoneo). The following are those people: The first problem with the present-day misunderstanding of this position is caused by the transliteration (spelled in letters of another alphabet) of the Greek word "diakonos" into the word "deacon" instead of translating the word into the English equivalent. I believe it is a better procedure for the outgoing pastor to instruct the church in calling a new pastor and by electing a temporary pulpit committee from the floor in a business meeting. Charles C. Ryrie,Ryrie Study Bible, Moody Press, Chicago, 1978, p1548 The Bible tells us that deacons were instituted and appointed to help in the daily needs of members of the church. After a church elects its officers each year it is proper to have special prayer and install them in their duties. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers." From the example in the New Testament we can conclude the tasks to which a deacon can be biblically appointed are not limited to waiting tables, applying the interpretive "rule of first occurrence." This is not the case. A.C. Gaebelein, The Acts of the Apostles, , Publication Office "Our Hope", New York City, It states that a deacon has the Another indication of the deacon's role is inherent in the name itself: "servant." A Biblical Look at Deacons Once this unbiblical situation comes into power over a church it becomes a yoke that few churches can cast off. It says that the deacon: "shall minister to those in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress . The word "servant" was a job description that described their ministry. However, neither is later identified as or given the title of deacon. Some might point out that in larger churches, it might be difficult to follow this procedure. . The deacons were to assist the elders (who replaced the apostles as the spiritual leaders of the church) with the physical needs of the church. I’ve met some deacons who viewed their role as being … Deacons are not included because these are the official positions in an assembly that God "gave.". When asked do I believe in, "deaconesses in the church." No other directions are given in Scripture concerning the work of the deacon. Used by permission of Broadman & Holman Publishers. The reason is apparent that there is no Scriptural reference available. Greek scholar, Kenneth Wuest translates the word, "be serving as deacons." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/office. Phebe was simply a faithful member who served the Lord in her church. Kenneth S. WuestThe New Testament, An Expanded Translation William B. 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