from the Greek word διάκονος, in its proper and primitive sense,
denotes a _servant_ who attends his master, waits on him at table, and
is always near his person to obey his orders, which was accounted a more
creditable kind of service than that which is imported by the word
δοῦλος _a slave_; but this distinction is not usually observed in the
New Testament. Our Lord makes use of both terms in Matt. xx, 26, 27,
though they are not distinctly marked in our translation: “Whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your _deacon_; and whosoever will be
chief among you, let him be your _servant_.” The appointment of deacons
in the first Christian church is distinctly recorded, Acts vi, 1–16. The
number of disciples having greatly increased in Jerusalem, the Greeks,
or Hellenistic Jews, began to murmur against the Hebrews, complaining
that their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of the
church’s bounty. The twelve Apostles, who hitherto had discharged the
different offices of Apostle, presbyter, and deacon, upon the principle
that the greater office always includes the less, now convened the
church, and said unto them, “It is not reasonable that we should leave
the ministration of the word of God, and serve tables: look ye out,
therefore, among yourselves, seven men of good report, full of the Holy
Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will
give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they (the multitude)
chose Stephen, and six others, whom they set before the Apostles, &c.
The qualifications of deacons are stated by the Apostle Paul, 1 Tim.
iii, 8–12. There were also, in the primitive churches females invested
with this office, who were termed deaconesses. Of this number was
Phœbe, a member of the church of Cenchrea, mentioned by St. Paul,
Rom. xvi, 1. “They served the church,” says Calmet, “in those offices
which the deacons could not themselves exercise, visiting those of their
own sex in sickness, or when imprisoned for the faith. They were persons
of advanced age, when chosen; and appointed to the office by imposition
of hands.” It is probably of these deaconesses that the Apostle speaks,
where he describes the ministering widows, 1 Tim. v, 5–10.
denotes a _servant_ who attends his master, waits on him at table, and
is always near his person to obey his orders, which was accounted a more
creditable kind of service than that which is imported by the word
δοῦλος _a slave_; but this distinction is not usually observed in the
New Testament. Our Lord makes use of both terms in Matt. xx, 26, 27,
though they are not distinctly marked in our translation: “Whosoever
will be great among you, let him be your _deacon_; and whosoever will be
chief among you, let him be your _servant_.” The appointment of deacons
in the first Christian church is distinctly recorded, Acts vi, 1–16. The
number of disciples having greatly increased in Jerusalem, the Greeks,
or Hellenistic Jews, began to murmur against the Hebrews, complaining
that their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of the
church’s bounty. The twelve Apostles, who hitherto had discharged the
different offices of Apostle, presbyter, and deacon, upon the principle
that the greater office always includes the less, now convened the
church, and said unto them, “It is not reasonable that we should leave
the ministration of the word of God, and serve tables: look ye out,
therefore, among yourselves, seven men of good report, full of the Holy
Ghost, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will
give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”
And the saying pleased the whole multitude; and they (the multitude)
chose Stephen, and six others, whom they set before the Apostles, &c.
The qualifications of deacons are stated by the Apostle Paul, 1 Tim.
iii, 8–12. There were also, in the primitive churches females invested
with this office, who were termed deaconesses. Of this number was
Phœbe, a member of the church of Cenchrea, mentioned by St. Paul,
Rom. xvi, 1. “They served the church,” says Calmet, “in those offices
which the deacons could not themselves exercise, visiting those of their
own sex in sickness, or when imprisoned for the faith. They were persons
of advanced age, when chosen; and appointed to the office by imposition
of hands.” It is probably of these deaconesses that the Apostle speaks,
where he describes the ministering widows, 1 Tim. v, 5–10.