Results 1 - 3 of 3
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why translate diakonos as deacon? | 1 Tim 3:8 | Makarios | 49658 | ||
Greetings DougB! Not only does the NASB translate 'diakonos' in 1 Timothy 3:8 as 'deacon', but so does The NET Bible (5), the KJV, ASV, 1965 Bible in Basic English, Rheims NT [1582], GOD'S WORD, ISV, LITV, MKJV, NIV, NAB, NRSV, Amplified, RSV, The World English Bible, 1833 Webster Bible, 1912 Weymouth NT, NKJV, ESV, Montgomery NT, James Murdock NT, RNKJV, AKJV, The Living Oracles NT, The Common Edition: NT, and the HCSB. However, the YLT, Good News Bible [TEV], 1889 Darby Bible, CEV, ACV, Twentieth Century NT, and Rotherham NT all vary in rendering 'diakonos' in this verse from "Ministers" (Rotherham, Darby) to "Ministrants" (YLT) to "Church officers" (CEV), or "Church helpers" (TEV), or even "Assistant-Officers" (Twentieth Century NT), or just "Helpers" (ACV). According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, 'diakonos' [1249] means "probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf 1377); TDNT - 2:88,152; n m/f AV - minister 20, servant 8, deacon 3; 31, 1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister 1a) the servant of a king 1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use 1c) a waiter, one who serves food and drink For Synonyms see entry 5834" (1) But as you have stated, the Greek word 'diakonos' occurs 31 times in the NT: * 20 times it is rendered as "minister" [KJV]: Matt. 20:26; Mark 10:43; Romans 13:4 (twice); Romans 15:8; 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 3:6; 2 Cor. 6:4; 2 Cor. 11:15 (twice); 2 Cor. 11:23; Gal. 2:17; Eph. 3:7; Eph. 6:21; Col. 1:7; Col. 1:23; Col. 1:25; Col. 4:7; 1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Tim. 4:6 (1) * 8 times it is rendered as "servant" [KJV]: Matt. 22:13; Matt. 23:11; Mark 9:35; John 2:5; John 2:9; John 12:26; Romans 16:1; Romans 16:27 (1) * and 3 times it is rendered as "deacon" [KJV]: Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8; 1 Tim. 3:12 (1) So why the great "discrepancy" in the use of the Greek word 'diakonos'? Here is some explanation: "3:8 Deacons. In its nontechnical usage, the Greek for this word means simply "one who serves." The men chosen in Acts 6:1-6 were probably not only the first deacons mentioned in the NT but also the first to be appointed in the church ... Generally, their service was meant to free the elders to give full attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:2,4). The only two local church offices mentioned in the NT are those of overseer (also called elder) and deacon (see Phil. 1:1)." (2) "3:8 deacons. From a word group meaning "to serve." Originally referring to menial tasks such as waiting on tables (see notes on Acts 6:1-4), "deacon" came to denote any service in the church. ... Scripture defines no official or specific responsibilities for deacons; they are to do whatever the elders assign them or whatever spiritual ministry is necessary." (3) "11: Women also shared in the work of the deacons (Romans 16:1)." (4) My conclusion is that the use of the English word "deacon" for the Greek word 'diakonos' can be justified since the context of the verses that contain the word "deacon" seem to be referring to a single person or office of the church, and the use of the word "deacon" would best encompass this overall meaning, since it is clear that this verse is recognizing a person or office other than that of an 'overseer' or 'elder'. Blessings to you, Makarios (1) Obtained through the use of the Blue Letter Bible Resource website (http://www.blueletterbible.org) (2) The Zondervan NASB Study Bible, 1999, the Zondervan Corporation, Kenneth Barker, General Editor (3) MacArthur Study Bible, 1997, Word Publishing, John MacArthur, Author and General Editor (4) The Oxford Annotated Bible with the Apocrypha, RSV, 1965, Oxford University Press, Herbert G. May, Bruce M. Metzger, Editors (5) The NET Bible, The Biblical Studies Foundation, http://www.bible.org |
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2 | Why translate diakonos as deacon? | 1 Tim 3:8 | DougB | 49676 | ||
Greetings All, Thank you for the input. In my study, as the traditions present themselves, have seen a much broader definition of "deaconing". Traditions are not bad. I like Makarios' perception that the use of deacon here might be to point to a specific person or office versus the whole of ministers (we are all ministers and servants). I think it might just be semantics. However, it would seem that any leader of ministry and service in the local church other than apostle or elder would all fall in the category of deacon. Or perhaps we could call them all ministers or servants. Hmmmmm.... There are clear qualifications for them to be servant leaders. |
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3 | Why translate diakonos as deacon? | 1 Tim 3:8 | Makarios | 50392 | ||
Greetings Doug! I apologize for the long wait in responding to your message.. I have been brought up in and have been around the church all of my life, but it seems that none of the churches that I have been a part of have dealt with this deacons/elders question quite as sufficiently as we would like.. :-) It seems that Acts 6 is speaking of particular people that are appointed to a specified task, and I could see where the term "deacon" would apply in that sense.. So would an acolyte be a "deacon" of the church? Would a liturgist, usher, treasurer or greeter be a deacon in the church? Good questions.. With the broad definition in Acts 6 of a 'deacon', I am persuaded to say "Yes": that ushers, liturgists, treasurers and any other office is that of a 'deacon.' However, I am not sure where I see that a deacon "frees" an elder or apostle from one of their duties, or "replaces" an elder or apostle in any capacity. Blessings to you, Makarios |
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