διάκονος

διάκονος, -ου, ὁ, ἡ

(derivation unknown), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Est 6,3, 5, א B Est 1,10; 2,2, Ord 10,4, 4Ma 9,17 * ;]

1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister: Matt 20,26; 22,13; 23,11, Mark 9,35; 10,43, Joh 2,5, 9, 1 Kor 3,5, Gal 2,17, Ef 6,21, Kol 4,7; δ. θεοῦ, Rom 13,4, 2 Kor 6,4, 1 Thess 3,2; δ. Χριστοῦ, 2 Kor 11,23, Kol 1,7, 1 Tim 4,6; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, Joh 12,26 δ. περιτομῆς, Rom 15,8 δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, 2 Kor 3,6 δ. δικαιοσύνης, 2 Kor 11,15 δ. [εὐαγγελίου], Ef 3,7, Kol 1,23; δ. [ἐκκλησίας], Kol 1,25,

2. As technical term for Church officer (so in pre-Christian times, see M, Th., I, 32), a deacon: Fil 1,1, 1 Tim 3,8, 12; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Rom 16,1 (cf. 1 Tim 3,11, and CGT, in l., also M, Th., l.with).†

SYN.: δοῦλος, bondman; θεράπων, servant acting voluntarily; ὑπηρέτης, servant, attendant, by etymol. suggesting subordination. All these imply relation to a person, in distinction from which δ. represents rather the servant in relation to his work. Cf. also λειτουργός, a public servant, in which the idea of service to the community is prominent; οἰκέτης, a house servant.