λειτουργέω

λειτουργέω, -ῶ

(λειτουργός), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁרַת pi., also for עָבַד, צָבָא, etc. ;]

1. in cl., at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost, render public service to the State, hence, generally,

2. to serve the State, do a service, serve (of service to the Gods, Diod., i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites (2 Mos 29,30, 4 Mos 16,9, Sir 4,14, 1Ma 10,42, al.; cf. Deiss., BS, 140 f.), Hebr 10,11 of Christians: with dative of person(s) before ἐν, Rom 15,27 (cf. Sir 10,25); τ. κυρίῳ, ApG 13,2,†

SYN.: λατρεύω (which see), prop., to serve for hire, LXX (as some­times in cl.), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people (2 Mos 4,3, 5 Mos 10,12, and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates (Rom 13,6; 15,27, are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr., Syn., § xxxv; ICC on Rom 1,9 Westc., He., 232 ff.)