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SOM 06 Diakonia: Sent for Service

This course will discuss the biblical concept of Diakonia as being the

church’s way of showing the love of God to people both inside & outside of our faith community. It will also examine a new understanding of what Diakonia

means.

“Deacon”

What do you think of?

Ano ba’ng naisip mo?

Acts 6:1-4At that time … Greek Jews … claimed that the widows among them were neglected every day when food & other assistance was distributed. The 12 apostles called all the disciples together & told them, "It's not right for us to give up God's word in order to distribute food. So … choose 7 men whom the people know are spiritually wise. We will put them in charge of this problem. However, we will devote ourselves to praying & to serving in ways that are related to the word.”

Acts 6:1-4

… when food & other assistance was distributed … DIAKONIA

… distribute food … DIAKONEO

… serving … DIAKONIA

• What do these words mean?

• What function did these men serve?

• How was it different from the 12?

• What was the result?

SOM-06-01 Service in the New & Old Testaments

“Diakon-” in Tagalog

• Lingkod

• Naglilingkod

• Alila

• Ministro

• Diakono

• Tagapaglingkod

Diakon- words in the Bible

• There are three basic forms of the word commonly translated as “Service.

• DIAKONOS – The person doing the service

• DIAKONIA – The office of service

• DIAKONEO – The service being done

Group Assignment

Study the verses in order to determine the meaning for each form of diakon / diakon-

•3 Groups

•[see handout for list of verses]

DIAKONOS an attendant or waiter; a Christian teacher &

pastor, deacon, minister, servant [1249]

reconcile, heal, & other forms of service

DIAKONOS

• Mat 20:26 [Mk 9:35; 10:43] – Hindi ganyan ang dapat umiral sa inyo. Kung nais ninyong maging dakila, dapat kayong maging lingkod sa iba,

DIAKONOS

• Mat 22:13 – kaya't sinabi ng hari sa mga lingkod, 'Talian ninyo ang kanyang kamay at paa, at itapon siya sa kadiliman sa labas. Doo'y mananangis siya at magngangalit ang kanyang mga ngipin.' "

• Mat 23:11 – pinakadakila sa inyo ay magiging lingkod ninyo.

DIAKONOS

• Joh 2:5 – Sinabi ng kanyang ina sa mga naglilingkod, "Gawin ninyo ang anumang sabihin niya sa inyo."

• Joh 2:9 – … tinikman nito ang tubig na naging alak. Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggaling iyon, subalit alam ng mga sumalok ng tubig. Kaya't tinawag niya ang lalaking ikinasal …

DIAKONOS

• Joh 12:26 – Ang naghahangad na maglingkod sa akin ay dapat sumunod sa akin, at saanman ako naroroon ay pumaparoon din siya. Pararangalan ng Ama ang sinumang naglilingkod sa akin."

DIAKONOS

• Rom 13:4 – Sila'y mga lingkod ng Diyos para sa ikabubuti mo. Ngunit kung gumagawa ka ng masama, dapat kang matakot dahil sila'y may kapangyarihang magparusa. Sila'y mga lingkod ng Diyos, na nagpaparusa sa mga gumagawa ng masama.

DIAKONOS

• Rom 15:8 -- Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

DIAKONOS

• Rom 16:1 -- I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

• 1Co 3:5 -- Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but, -- ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?

DIAKONOS• 2Co 3:6 -- Who also hath made us

able, ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

• 2Co 6:4 -- But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

DIAKONOS

• 2Co 11:15 -- Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

DIAKONOS• 2Co 11:23 -- Are they ministers of

Christ? I speak as a fool -- I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

• Gal 2:17 -- But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

DIAKONOS• Eph 3:7 -- Whereof I was made a

minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

• Eph 6:21 -- But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

DIAKONOS• Php 1:1 -- Paul and Timothy, the

servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

• Col 1:7 -- As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

DIAKONOS

• Col 1:23 -- If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

DIAKONOS

• Col 1:25 -- Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God;

• Col 4:7 -- All my state, shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord:

DIAKONOS• 1Th 3:2 -- And sent Timothy, our

brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

• 1Ti 3:8 -- Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

DIAKONOS• 1Ti 3:12 -- Let the deacons be the

husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.

• 1Ti 4:6 -- If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

DIAKONIA the office of a servant, service [1248]

reconciler, healer, & other forms of servers

DIAKONIA

• Lu 10:40 But Martha was distracted with much serving; & she went to him & said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

• Ac 1:17 For he was numbered among us, & was allotted his share in this ministry.

DIAKONIA• Ac 1:25 to take the place in this

ministry & apostleship from which Judas turned aside, to go to his own place."

• Ac 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the He because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

DIAKONIA

• Ac 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer & to the ministry of the word."

• Ac 11:29 And the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brethren who lived in Judea;

DIAKONIA

• Ac 12:25 And Barnabas & Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark.

DIAKONIA

• Ac 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may accomplish my course & the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

DIAKONIA

• Ac 21:19 After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

• Ro 11:13 Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

DIAKONIA

• Ro 12:7 … if service, in our serving; he who teaches, in his teaching;

• Ro 15:31 that I may be delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, & that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints,

DIAKONIA

• 1Co 12:5 & there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;

• 1Co 16:15 Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, & they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints;

DIAKONIA• 2Co 3:7-9 Now if the dispensation of

death, carved in letters on stone, came with such splendor that the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face because of its brightness, fading as this was, will not the dispensation of the Spirit be attended with greater splendor? For if there was splendor in the dispensation of condemnation, the dispensation of righteousness must far exceed it in splendor.

DIAKONIA

• 2Co 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.

DIAKONIA

• 2Co 5: All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself & gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

• 2Co 6:3 We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,

DIAKONIA

• 2Co 8:4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—

• 2Co 9:1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the offering for the saints,

DIAKONIA

• 2Co 9:12-13 for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God. Under the test of this service, you will glorify God by your obedience in acknowledging the gospel of Christ, & by the generosity of your contribution for them & for all others;

DIAKONIA

• 2Co 11:8 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you.

• Ep 4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

DIAKONIA

• Co 4: And say to Archippus, "See that you fulfil the ministry which you have received in the Lord."

• 1Ti 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service,

DIAKONIA

• 2Ti 4:5 As for you, always be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.

• 2Ti 4:11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark & bring him with you; for he is very useful in serving me.

DIAKONIA

• He 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to obtain salvation?

• Re 2:19 "I know your works, your love & faith & service & patient endurance, & that your latter works exceed the first.

DIAKONEO to minister/serve/do service

[1247]reconciling, healing, & other forms

of serving

DIAKONEO

• Mt 4:11 [Mk 1:13] Then the devil left him, & behold, angels came & ministered to him.

• Mt 8:15 [Mk 1:31; Lu 4:39] he touched her hand, & the fever left her, & she rose & served him.

DIAKONEO• Mt 20:28 [Mk 10:45] even as the Son

of man came not to be served but to serve, & to give his life as a ransom for many."

• Mt 25:44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, & did not minister to thee?’

DIAKONEO

• Mt 27:55 [Mk 15:41; Lu 8:3] There were also many women there, looking on from afar, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him;

DIAKONEO

• Lu 10:40 [Jo 12:2] But Martha was distracted with much serving; & she went to him & said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

DIAKONEO

• Lu 12:37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes; truly, I say to you, he will gird himself & have them sit at table, & he will come & serve them.

DIAKONEO

• Lu :8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, & gird yourself & serve me, till I eat & drink; & afterward you shall eat & drink’?

DIAKONEO

• Lu 22:26-27 But not so with you; rather let the greatest among you become as the youngest, & the leader as one who serves. For which is the greater, one who sits at table, or one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at table? But I am among you as one who serves.

DIAKONEO

• Jo 12:26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; & where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

DIAKONEO• Ac 6:2 And the twelve summoned

the body of the disciples & said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.

• Ac 19:22 And having sent into Macedonia two of his helpers, Timothy & Erastus, he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

DIAKONEO

• Romans 15:25 At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem with aid for the saints.

• 2Co 3:3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

DIAKONEO

• 2Co 8:19-20 And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us in this gracious work which we are carrying on, for the glory of the Lord & to show our good will. We intend that no one should blame us about this liberal gift which we are administering,

DIAKONEO

• 1Ti 3:10, 13 And let them also be tested first; then if they prove themselves blameless let them serve as deacons … for those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves & also great confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

DIAKONEO• 2Ti 1:18 may the Lord grant him to

find mercy from the Lord on that Day—and you well know all the service he rendered at Ephesus.

• Philemon 1:13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel;

DIAKONEO

• Hebrews 6:10 For God is not so unjust as to overlook your work & the love which you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do [serve].

DIAKONEO

• 1 Peter 1:12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things which have now been announced to you by those who preached the good news to you through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

DIAKONEO• 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received

a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who utters oracles of God; whoever renders service, as one who renders it by the strength which God supplies; in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory & dominion for ever & ever. Amen.

Sources• Frederick William Danker et al, eds.,

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., (BAGD), (Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press, 2000).

• John N. Collins, New Greek Lexicon (BDAG) Redescribes DIAKONIA, n.p., n.d.

Diakoneo [verb]

1. function as an intermediary, act as go-between/agent

– Mk 10:45 the Son of man came to carry out an assignment.

– Phm 13 Onesimus can be used by Paul on assignment in behalf of the gospel.

– 2 Cor 8:19 a gift that we are transmitting.

– 2 Cor 3:3 a letter of Christ delivered by us.

Diakoneo [verb]

2. Perform obligations – (a) Acts 19:22 perform duties– (b) wait on someone at table

Diakoneo [verb]

3. Carry out official duties – 1 Tim 3:10– Mt 25:44 those consigned to perdition

plead their total dedication to the King’s interests.

Diakoneo [verb]

4. Acts 6:2 poses a special problem: – serving food at tables, but it is

improbable that some widows would be deprived of food at a communal meal;

– diakonia (v1) more probably refers to administrative responsibility;

– Tables (v1) may denote banker’s accounts.

Diakonia [noun]

1. Service rendered in an intermediary capacity, mediation, assignment: mediation of this public obligation

– 2 Cor 9:12 – Rom 15:31 my embassy in behalf of

Jerusalem– Acts 11:29 send someone something

for support

Diakonia [noun]

2. Functioning in the interest of a larger public, service, office of the prophets & apostles:

– Acts 1:17,25 – Acts 6:1– Acts 20:24 receive a ministry; – 1 Cor 12:5 – Eph 4:12 belongs here

Diakonia [noun]

3. An administrative function, service as attendant, aide, or assistant (English “deacon”)

– Acts 1:17,25

Diakonos [noun]1. one who serves as an intermediary in

a transaction, agent, intermediary, courier: of a deity’s intermediaries

– 2 Cor 6:4 – 1 Th 3:2 – 2 Cor 11:23 – Col 1:7; with specific reference to an

aspect of the divine message: of apostles & other prominent Christian charged w/ its transmission Col 1:23 Eph 3:7;

– compare Phoebe Rom 16:1

Diakonos [noun]

2. one who gets something done, at the behest of a superior, assistant to someone: Mk 10:43.

– English derivatives ‘deacon’ & ‘deaconess’ are inadequate for rendering NT usage.

Diakon- Words

“Care, concern, & love – those elements of meaning introduced in the interpretation of this word & its cognates by Wilhelm Brandt – are just not part of their field of meaning.” Collins

DIAKONIA

A New Understanding?

A New Understanding?• 2Co 3:5 Who is Apollos? Who is Paul?

They are servants who helped you come to faith. Each did what the Lord gave him to do.

• 2Co 3:6 He has also qualified us to be ministers of a new promise, a spiritual promise, not a written one.

• 2Co 6:4 Instead, our lives demonstrate that we are God's servants. We have endured many things: suffering, distress, anxiety,

Alison McRaeIn respect to what he calls the ‘servant myth’ [Anthony] Gooley argues that in the context of Acts 6:1-7 Luke does not use the title diakonos to describe any activity of charitable service in relation to the Seven. Rather, he suggests that ‘proclaiming the word, leading communities, representing communities & taking messages between communities & other forms of ministry are associated with those who are called diakonos in the New Testament’.

“For Such A Time As This”“A renewed ... diaconate, operating as a catalyst for Christian discipleship, in the mission space between worship & the world, can help the church to become more incarnational. In worship the church gathers to receive & to celebrate its identity, to be renewed in the Spirit, & to be sent forth in the name of Christ & in the power of the same Spirit to bring God’s reconciling, healing grace to a world full of brokenness.”

Hartley, ‘Deacons as Emissary-Servants’, 375

“the term emissary is gaining recognition as a complementary interpretation of the traditional “servant” designation for diakonos & related terms”