Lesson 65 Amplified – DIAKONOS

DIAKONOS -- DIAKONOI

American: singular: waiter, attendant, servant, deacon

plural: waiters, attendants, servants, deacons 

Some denominations appoint members as “deacons”. They are usually regarded as servants of the congregation. We will now access the initial usage of this Koine Greek word. 

Almost Greek [Words in italics are translator’s additions.] 

Acts 6: [This is the description of the inception of appointing diakonoi.]                               Now, matheton [learners, pupils, disciples] multiplying in these days, there was grumbling of the Hellenists [Greek-speaking Jews] toward the Hebrews because their widows were being overlooked [disregarded] in the daily servingof meals. Now, the twelve disciples having called (to themselves) the throng of the matheton, they said, “It isn’t agreeable [fit] for us to leave down [abandon] the teaching of the Logon [Word] to serve [wait] tables. Accordingly, brothers, inspect [select] seven men (emergent from yourselves) of testimony [witness] full of the Hagios Pneuma and of wisdom, whom we will establish upon this employment, but we will be earnest [adhere to] proseuche [humbly begging God, praying] and the serving of the Logou.” 

1^st Thessalonians 3: So no longer able to endure, I agreed to be left alone in Athens, Achaia. I sent our brother and diakonos of Theos and my fellow worker in the euaggelion [good news, gospel, evangel] of the Christos [Anointed One, Messiah, Christ], Timothy, sterixai [to securely set, to make steadfast] and parakalesai [call near, invite, urge, exhort, encourage] you concerning your pistis [reliance, faith]. 

1^st Corinthians 3.3: For from where in you is zelos [heat: zeal, ardor; jealousy, envy, malice], quarrelling and disunion? You aren’t fleshy and not walk down to man, do you? For when one may say, “I (in fact) am of Paul,” and another “I am of Apollos,” aren’t you being fleshy? What then is Paul and what is Apollos? Conversely, we are diakonoi via whom you episteusate [had faith]; to each as the Kurios gave to him. I planted, Apollos watered, conversely, Theos caused to grow. So as neither he planting nor he watering matters, conversely, He making grow -- Theos! 

1^st Corinthians 16.15: Brothers! you know that the house [family] of Stephanas [“Crown”] is first fruit of Achaia and that they assigned themselves to diakonian [serving] the hagiois [holy ones, sacred ones, consecrated ones, saints] and I exhort you to be subordinate to such and to all my toiling fellow workers. 

Philippians 1: Paul and Timothy, slaves of Jesus, the Christou, to all the hagios in Jesus, the Christou, being in Philippi; with superintendents [overseers] and diakonois: 

1^st Timothy 3.8: Likewise, diakonous must be venerable, not dilogos [double-tongued], not given to much wine, not sordid [greedy], holding the musterion [secrets, mysteries] of the pisteos [faith] in a clean conscience. Also let these first be tested, then let them serve; being unaccused. Likewise, their gunaikas [women, wives] must be venerable not diabolous [leaders to shame, devils, satyrs], sober; pistas [trustworthy, faithful] in all. Let diakonoi be men of one gunaikos, well-presiding over their children and their own houses for those having served well acquire a kalon [beautiful, virtuous] standing for themselves and much outspoken [confidence] in the pistei [faith] in Jesus, the Christo. 

1^st Peter 4.7: The telos [the point aimed at, the end of this age] has drawn near. Accordingly, be of sound mind. Also, be sober into proseuchas [humbly begging God; praying]. Above all, be having intense agapen [unconditional love] for each other because agape will cover up scads of hamartion [misses of the mark or goal; errors, offenses, sins]. Be hospitable (one to another) without grumbling. Just as each has received a charisma [gift, endowment, faculty, deliverance], serve yourselves [each other] to [with] it as good diakonoi of the variegated charitos of Theos. 

End of Sixty-fifth Lesson