Diakonos = Deacon

Articles DIAKONOS = "Deacon"
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"deacon"
(TECHNICAL USE)
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"servant"

(NON-TECHNICAL

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"minister" USAGE) ---below---

DEACON, an "office" in the church (I Timothy 3:8,12; Philippians 1:1)
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King's SERVANTS (deacons) in parable (Matthew 22:13)

Household SERVANTS (deacons) at wedding feast (John 2:5,9)

Any man SERVANT (deacon) of Christ (John 12:26)
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Greatest to be SERVANT (deacon) of all (Matthew 23:11)

Phebe SERVANT (used
as feminine of deacon) (Romans 16:1)
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"Great" among disciples to be MINISTER (deacon) (Matthew 20:26)
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Officials of government called MINISTERS (deacons) (Romans 13:4)

Jesus himself called MINISTER (deacon) (Romans 15:8; Galatians 2:17)

Apostle called MINISTER (deacon) (Ephesians 3:7)

Preachers called MINISTERS (deacons) (I Corinthians 3:5; Ephesians 6:21; Colossians 1:7; 4:7; I Thessalonians 3:2; I Timothy 4:6)

False teachers called Satan's MINISTERS (deacons) (II Corinthians 11:15) .

xTHE SCHOLARS of the King James Version of the Bible translated the Greek word diakonos in three ways. When the word was used in a technical sense, having reference to an "office" in the church, a transliteration of the word was used, "deacon." In all of the other places when they considered the word to be used in a generic, non-technical sense, diakonos was represented by the words "servant" and "minister." Even more so, the word "ministry" is used generically in the New Testament, simply meaning to serve in almost any capacity.

However, today in the religious world the term "minister" is used in a very special or technical sense. It is used as the name of an "office" (a specific position) in the church. In particular, the person who is usually thought of as preacher is called "THE MINISTER" and has been "ordained" to "THE MINISTRY."

In the light of what we know about the Bible (notice chart above), this is confusing, and it brings several other questions to mind. Using the term in such a technical or official sense is inappropriate, unless it has reference to the "deacon" in the local church. To compound the confusion, many churches who have "MINISTERS" also have deacons. Then if we profess to be using "minister" in a general sense when we speak of a preacher as "THE MINISTER" of the church in such a pronounced way, it still has an unscriptural ring. The New Testament teaches the priesthood of believers, and every Christian is a minister in the general, non-technical sense. No one is "THE MINISTER."

Therefore, we conclude that the modern office of "THE MINISTER" is an unscriptural position not taught in the Word of God. In view of what we read in God's Word, the modern MINISTER is somewhat of an EVANGELIST-ELDER-MEMBER hybrid (plus some more). He is a clergyman who has taken over the job of a defunct eldership and that of an inactive membership (and he and they love to have it so). He is "paid" to do the job God intended others to do. In the meantime, a recognition of and the work of a New Testament evangelist is not being done.

These thoughts may be totally new to some. Think on them. Much restoring needs to be done.

The articles, "An Examination and An Overview of Ephesians 4:11"
(Part 1 and 2) should be read in connection with "DIAKONOS."
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