Decons/Elders

[Khristeeanos]

Paul wrote to Timothy and gave the qualifications to become a decon or an elder. But I am not sure what the difference is.

Can someone please help me understand?

Thanks.

[Keith]

There's a difference between these two terms even though people use them interchangeably. The first time we see the word that is translated "deacon" is in Acts although it is veiled...

"Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables." Acts 6:2

With the help of a Word Study, the word "serve" is the Greek word "diakoneo" and it comes from a word that means "an attendant, a waiter, or one who ministers to another." The context here was that there was a dispute in the church in Acts about the way the pooled resources were being allocated and the Apostles were being called upon to arbitrate and it was a distraction from their ability to preach the gospel. So, a group of seven men were appointed to take care of this task.

A deacon is one who serves others and especially in the body of born again believers that make up a local congregation.

Paul gives the qualifications of the bishop or elder in his first letter to Timothy.

SIDEBAR NOTE OF INTEREST: The Greek word that is used for the office of a bishop or elder is "episkope" and the word used for the one who holds the office is "episkopos." The bishop himself is the superintendent or the officer in general charge of or the overseer of the congregation. Our English word "Episcopal" has its basis the root Greek word, which means knowledge gained by inspection, or seeking out, to look on or to exercise oversight of. Therefore the bishop or elder was one who was the overseer in charge of the oversight of the local body of believers. This is what we would call a pastor or minister today.

The qualifications of the bishop/elder/pastor are: "This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil." 1 Timothy 3:1-7

Paul repeats these qualifications in his letter to Titus. "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." Titus 1:5-9

The qualifications of a deacon are similar to those of a bishop/elder/pastor. "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." 1 Timothy 3:8-13 The word translated "deacon" in this passage is the same Greek word "diakoneo" as is used in Acts 6:2, and so we know we are talking about the same office.

This is my understanding, with the help of Word Studies. Hope it helps.

[Guest Patrobas]

In the studies that I have done in my local church, it was explained that there are three different greek words used interchangably for the translated word "Elder" in the New Testament (pardon me for not knowing them offhand).

One was the Greek word for Shepherd (of the flock)

One was the Greek word for Overseer (of the church's affairs)

One was the Greek word for Elder (as one appointed)

I would welcome any comments and additional thoughts on that. I am not too practiced on the original Greek manuscripts and my facts are probably a little riddled with cobwebs. Any input here would be appreciated.

According to some of the other things that I have studied, it said that the word "diakonos" should have been more accurately translated as "servant" instead of "deacon". In all of the instances in the NT when the leaders of the church had to make a decision or commission men of God, it seems that the word "Elders" was used and the only place that Deacons were mentioned (or deaconesses, in Paul's writings), it was referring to someone in more of a servant position instead of a leadership position.

Am I understanding that correctly?

Again, pardon my ignorance on some of these issues.

Pat

[Khristeeanos]

Pat

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi there, Pat! Thanks for your input. I hope you stick around.

[JimR-OCDS]

Bishop

(Anglo-Saxon Biscop, Busceop, German Bischof; from the Greek episkopos, an overseer, through Latin episcopus; Italian vescovo; Old French vesque; French

[Guest Patrobas]

This passage is worthy of note, not only because it describes the qualities desirable in candidates for the diaconate, but also because it suggests that external administration and the handling of money were likely to form part of their functions.

Well, how does this tie in with church structures where the deacons and the elders make up a colateral BOARD which votes and makes decisions for the church? Everywhere I look in scripture, I cannot see deacons being placed in leadership WITH the elder but rather see them more in a servant role, perhaps as servant-leaders in a ministry, such as Hospitality (working at the tables distributing food), etc.

Just trying to find a scriptural basis where DEACONS should be able to vote and, in some cases, overide the ELDERS of a congregation, which I have seen in some church structures. Thanks.

Pat

[JimR-OCDS]

Deacons

The name deacon (diakonos) means only minister or servant, and is employed in this sense both in the Septuagint (though only in the book of Esther, e.g. 2:2; 6:3) and in the New Testament (e.g. Matthew 20:28; Romans 15:25; Ephesians 3:7; etc.). But in Apostolic times the word began to acquire a more definite and technical meaning. Writing about 63 A.D. St. Paul addresses "all the saints who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons" (Philippians 1:1). A few years later (1 Timothy 3:8 sq.) he impresses upon Timothy that "deacons must be chaste, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience." He directs further that they must "first be proved: and so let them minister, having no crime", and he adds that they should be the husbands of one wife: who rule well their children and their own houses. For they that have ministered well shall purchase to themselves a good degree, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus." This passage is worthy of note, not only because it describes the qualities desirable in candidates for the diaconate, but also because it suggests that external administration and the handling of money were likely to form part of their functions.

ORIGIN AND EARLY HISTORY OF THE DIACONATE

According to the constant tradition of the Catholic Church, the narrative of Acts 6:1-6, which serves to introduce the account of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, describes the first institution of the office of deacon. The Apostles, in order to meet the complaints of the Hellenistic Jews that, "their widows were neglected in the daily ministrations" (diakonia), called together

the multitude of the disciples and said: It is not reason that we should leave the word of God and serve (diakonein) tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continuously to prayer, and to the ministry of the word (te diakonia tou logou). And the saying was liked by all the multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith, and of the Holy Ghost

(with six others who are named). These they placed "before the Apostles; and they, praying, imposed hands upon them."

Now, on the ground that the Seven are not expressly called deacons and that some of them (e.g. St. Stephen, and later Phillip (Acts 21:8) preached and ranked next to the Apostles, Protestant commentators have constantly raised objections against the identification of this choice of the Seven with the institution of the diaconate. But apart from the fact that the tradition among the Fathers is both unanimous and early -- e.g. St. Irenaeus (Adv. Haer., III, xii, 10 and IV, xv, 1) speaks of St. Stephen as the first deacon -- the similarity between the functions of the Seven who served the tables and those of the early deacons is most striking. Compare, for example, both with the passage from the Acts with 1 Timothy 3:8 sq., quoted above, the following sentence from Hermas (Sim., IX, 26):

They that have spots are the deacons that exercised their office ill and plundered the livelihood of widows and orphans and made gains for themselves from the ministrations they had received to perform.

Or, again, St. Ignatius (Ep. ii to the Trallians):

Those who are deacons of the mysteries of Jesus Christ must please all men in all ways. For they are not deacons of meats and drinks [only] but servants of the church of God.

St. Clement of Rome (about A.D. 95) clearly describes the institution of deacons along with that of bishops as being the work of the Apostles themselves (Ep. Clem., xlii). Further, it should be noted that ancient tradition limited the number of deacons at Rome to seven (Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., VI, xliii), and that a canon of the council of Neo-Caesarea (325) prescribed the same restriction for all cities, however large, appealing directly to the Acts of the Apostles as a precedent. We seem, therefore, thoroughly justified in identifying the functions of the Seven with those of the deacons of whom we hear so much in the Apostolic Fathers and the early councils. Established primarily to relieve the bishops and presbyters of their more secular and invidious duties, notably in distributing the alms of the faithful, we need not do more than recall the large place occupied by the agapae, or love feasts, in the early worship of the Church, to understand how readily the duty of serving at tables may have passed into the privilege of serving at the altar. They became the natural intermediaries between the celebrant and the people. Inside the Church they made public announcements, marshaled the congregation, preserved order, and the like. Outside of it they were the bishop's deputies in secular matters, and especially in the relief of the poor. Their subordination and general duties of service seem to have been indicated by their standing during the public assemblies of the Church, while the bishops and priests were seated. It should be noticed that along with these functions probably went a large share in the instruction of catechumens and preparation of the altar services. Even in the Acts of the Apostles (8:38) the Sacrament of Baptism is administered by the deacon Phillip.

///Souce, Catholic Encyclopedia