Deacon: Difference between revisions
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The Latin word deaconus meant a leader of ten. | The Latin word deaconus meant a leader of ten. | ||
Originally tithing was based on ten families being served by one minister. Each minister in Israel served ten families. In support of that government they were tithed to in accordance to their service.<Ref>Numbers 7:5 “Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.” </Ref> | Originally tithing was based on ten families being served by one minister. Each minister in Israel served ten families. In support of that government they were tithed to in accordance to their service.<Ref>Numbers 7:5 “Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the [[Levites]], to every man according to his service.” </Ref> | ||
They served the tents of the congregation ten families to keep them free. | |||
Throughout the early Church you see congregations of ten, with ministers gathered also in groups of ten. This was a pattern repeated to join the people in a living network of faith, hope, and charity, under the perfect law of liberty. Families seeking to be ruled by God rather than by the unrighteous gods of the world gathered together. | Throughout the early Church you see congregations of ten, with ministers gathered also in groups of ten. This was a pattern repeated to join the people in a living network of faith, hope, and charity, under the perfect law of liberty. Families seeking to be ruled by God rather than by the unrighteous gods of the world gathered together. | ||
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any thing | any thing | ||
</Ref> well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. | </Ref> well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. | ||
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{{Template:Network}} | {{Template:Network}} | ||
Revision as of 09:53, 13 November 2015
Is there an office of Deacon? What should he be doing? Churches have strayed so far from the Gospel of the Kingdom that their deacons actually argue that the belief that service is distinctive of deacons is the servant myth.[1]
The Deacon Gooley used the letters to the Trallians by Ignatius of Antioch[2] to make his point. It stated, ‘deacons are not waiters (diakonoi) providing food and drink but executives (hyperetai) of the Church of God’.
Terms evolve, but what was their meaning and use in the time and context of the scripture? The term “Dean”, a faculty head, is derived from the Latin “deaconus”.[3]
Terms like decurions signified those who served ten deans.
The Latin word deaconus meant a leader of ten.
Originally tithing was based on ten families being served by one minister. Each minister in Israel served ten families. In support of that government they were tithed to in accordance to their service.[4]
They served the tents of the congregation ten families to keep them free.
Throughout the early Church you see congregations of ten, with ministers gathered also in groups of ten. This was a pattern repeated to join the people in a living network of faith, hope, and charity, under the perfect law of liberty. Families seeking to be ruled by God rather than by the unrighteous gods of the world gathered together.
They were served by their Christian ministers. They provided for their welfare and needs by charitable contributions so that they did not have to go to the civil altars of men who exercised authority and be entangled in bondage again in the elements of that world.
So, Ignatius and Gooley were correct. Deacons were not merely to wait on tables and serve food but they were the welfare officers of a republican form of government, the Kingdom of God, which composed from about 5 to 10% of the Roman Empire and beyond.
- As with ministers like Stephen, we also see the Didache stating: “Therefore, elect for yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men who are meek and not lovers of money, true and approved, for they also perform for you the ministry of the prophets and teachers.” 15:1[5]
- Deacon: The word deacon means leader of ten. Leadership in the Church is by service. In the Greek the word diakonos means servant or Ministers. Minister is the Latin word for doer of little deeds. Minister is a generic term that includes all who serve others, whether deacon, bishop, archbishop or other.
- Elder. An Elder is often older and more experienced, usually holding a position of respect, a father and husband by experience, the head of a family by status. An elder is chosen by each family group by decision or status. It is from the elders that the Ministers of the congregation are usually chosen for appointment by the Church.
- Minister. A minister is any servant of the Church whether temporary or ordained. Ministers may include Personal Contact Ministers, Ministers of Congregations of record (Licensed Ministers), trustees, members of Commissions (Missionaries or Commissioned Ministers), Deacons, ministers acting ex officio, Ordained ministers, and Novices, etc. Or in a less official and more independent capacity any lay person including presbyters, acolytes or congregants offering assistance or aid.
Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:[6]
1 Timothy 3:8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
1 Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
1 Timothy 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
1 Timothy 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon[7] well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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Footnotes
- ↑ Anthony Gooley, Deacons and the Servant Myth, November 2006, Ministry Development Officer in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, Australia.
- ↑ A student of John the Apostle (ca. From 35 to 45-and 98 to 117)
- ↑ Dean is from M. Fr. doyen and O.Fr. Deien meaning the “commander of ten”. The Online Etymology Dictionary
- ↑ Numbers 7:5 “Take [it] of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.”
- ↑ The Didache is mentioned by Eusebius (c. 324) as the Teachings of the Apostles following the books recognized as canonical (Historia Ecclesiastica III, 25): ...
- ↑ 1249 ~διάκονος~ diakonos \@dee-ak’-on-os\@ probably from an obsolete diako (to run on errands, cf 1377);n m/f AV-minister 20, servant 8, deacon 3; 31
- 1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master,
- 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
- ↑ 1247 ~διακονέω~ diakoneo \@dee-ak-on-eh’-o\@ from 1249; v AV-minister unto 15, serve 10, minister 7, misc 5; 37
- 1)) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon
- 1a) to minister to one, render ministering offices to
- 1a1) to be served, ministered unto
- 1b) to wait at a table and offer food and drink to the guests,
- 1b1) of women preparing food
- 1c) to minister i.e. supply food and necessities of life
- 1c1) to relieve one’s necessities (e.g. by collecting alms),
- 1a) to minister to one, render ministering offices to
- 1c2) to take care of the poor and the sick, who administer the
- 1c3) in Christian churches to serve as deacons
- 1d) to minister
- 1d1) to attend to anything, that may serve another’s interests
- 1d2) to minister a thing to one, to serve one or by supplying
- 1)) to be a servant, attendant, domestic, to serve, wait upon