The instruction concerning deacons is found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
The word deacon, DIAKONOS, is literally the Greek word for a waiter, or waitress in a restaurant. It is somebody who serves, somebody who waits on people.
The actual office itself was not created by man for the church. It was actually created out of necessity and need. Back in Acts Chapter 6, there were a group of Hellenistic Jewish women and families who were being overlooked in the daily distribution of bread.
Not purposely, but in their community, these are Greek speaking Jews who are in a community together. And they were being overlooked in this distribution of bread.
So the disciples said choose out men who are of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom that we may appoint over this matter.
And that was the beginning of deacons. It wasn't really an office in the church. It was the description of a server, someone to serve the physical needs of the believers just like it is in the church today, even though in the church today, it is an office called the deacon.
The Text in 1 Timothy tells us that the deacon or deacons, as they are appointed for office, they are supposed to be examples to the rest of the church.
In fact, it tells us in the text that they are to be lifted up, and actually it is the word pedestal, not for people to glorify them, but for them to be an example of what it means to be a server, because every believer is supposed to be a server. So they are the examples of what it means to serve.
The instruction concerning deacons is found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13.
The word deacon, DIAKONOS, is literally the Greek word for a waiter, or waitress in a restaurant. It is somebody who serves, somebody who waits on people.
The actual office itself was not created by man for the church. It was actually created out of necessity and need. Back in Acts Chapter 6, there were a group of Hellenistic Jewish women and families who were being overlooked in the daily distribution of bread.
Not purposely, but in their community, these are Greek speaking Jews who are in a community together. And they were being overlooked in this distribution of bread.
So the disciples said choose out men who are of good report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom that we may appoint over this matter.
And that was the beginning of deacons. It wasn't really an office in the church. It was the description of a server, someone to serve the physical needs of the believers just like it is in the church today, even though in the church today, it is an office called the deacon.
The Text in 1 Timothy tells us that the deacon or deacons, as they are appointed for office, they are supposed to be examples to the rest of the church.
In fact, it tells us in the text that they are to be lifted up, and actually it is the word pedestal, not for people to glorify them, but for them to be an example of what it means to be a server, because every believer is supposed to be a server. So they are the examples of what it means to serve.
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