Open Door Baptist Church
Acts 6:1-7
The ordination of the first deacons. The word Deacon doesn’t occur in the passage as written in the KJV but it does in the Greek
1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
- ministration – διακονίᾳ diakonia
- service, ministry
- waiting at table; in a wider sense: service, ministration.
2
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.
- serve – διακονεῖν diakonein
- to serve, minister
- I wait at table (particularly of a slave who waits on guests); I serve (generally).
3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
- ministry – διακονίᾳ diakonia
5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
The next time the word Deacon occurs in our English version is Philippians 1:1
Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
This is where we see a distinction between the clergy and the laity
broadly speaking the clergy, or priesthood, care for the spiritual welfare, the diaconate care for the physical welfare of the congregation.
The qualifications for bshops and deacons are laid out in 1 Timothy 3
- bishops – ἐπισκόποις episkopois ( overseer )
- deacons – διακόνοις diakonois ( a servant, minister )
We connect the office of bishop to the office of pastor through 1 Peter 2:25
For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
- shepherd – Ποιμένα Poimena
- a shepherd
- a shepherd; hence met: of the feeder, protector, and ruler of a flock of men.
- properly, a shepherd (“pastor” in Latin); (figuratively) someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord).
Matty (Headwind) 