Deacon

How Nave’s arranged it

• (Servant, waiter)
• (One charged with the temporal affairs of the local congregation)
• Selected by the peopleActs 6:1–6
• Characteristics of1 Timothy 3:8–13
• The Greek word (diakonos) translated "deacon" means servant, and is so translated inMatthew 23:11John 12:26
• Also translated "minister,"Mark 10:431 Corinthians 3:51 Thessalonians 3:2

The passages, in Bible order (7)

The same references, sorted Genesis to Revelation. The first 7 are quoted in full; the rest are one click beneath them, book by book.

1. Matthew 23:11

   The greatest among you shall be your servant.

   ›Commentary on Matthew 23:112 voices

   “Since those who have arrived teaching new beliefs for the most part do so from conceit and arrogance, I will say something concerning the value of the teaching. The Lord cuts short this opinion and way as leading to destruction. He says, "You love glory and the places of first importance." Meanwhile he desires the servant's role and cultivates humility.

   “But he that is greatest among you,.... Either who really is so, having more grace, and greater gifts bestowed upon him, than others; which doubtless was the case of some of the disciples, or who desired to be the greatest, was ambitious of, and affected a superiority over others, and to be in the highest post and place, as it is certain some of them did.

   Everything gathered on Matthew 23:11→

   Verse page →Original language →

2. Mark 10:43

   But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,

   ›Commentary on Mark 10:432 voices

   “(ubi sup.) In which He teaches, that he is the greater, who is the less, and that he becomes the lord, who is servant of all: vain, therefore, was it both for the one party to seek for immoderate things, and the other to be annoyed at their desiring greater things, since we are to arrive at the height of virtue not by power but by humility.

   “But so shall it not be among you,.... Or "so let it not be", as in many copies; or as the Persic version renders it, "it ought not to be so among you"; such a lordly spirit does not become you; this is heathenish: but whosoever will be great among you shall be, as in Matthew "let him", Mat 20:26, be your minister.

   Everything gathered on Mark 10:43→

   Verse page →Original language →

3. John 12:26

   If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, My servant will be as well. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

   ›Commentary on John 12:262 voices

   “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me. What He says is something of this kind: If I, He says, for the sake of benefitting you am exposing Myself to death, is it not indeed cowardly on your part to shrink from despising your transient life for the sake of enjoying your private advantages, and from obtaining life imperishable by means of the death of the body? For they seem to be hating their own life, with regard to the endurance of suffering, who expose it to death, and keep it for everlasting blessings.

   “If any man serve, me,....

   Everything gathered on John 12:26→

   Verse page →Original language →

4. Acts 6:1–6

   In those days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Grecian Jews among them began to grumble against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.

   ›Commentary on Acts 6:1–62 voices

   “A brother heretic emerged in Nicolaus. He was one of the seven deacons who were appointed in the Acts of the Apostles. He affirms that Darkness was seized with a concupiscence-and, indeed, a foul and obscene one-after Light: out of this permixture it is a shame to say what fetid and unclean (combinations arose).

   “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,.... From an hundred and twenty to three thousand more, from thence to five thousand more, and after that a multitude of men and women were added, and still they were increasing; see Act 1:15 Act 2:

   Everything gathered on Acts 6:1–6→

   Verse page →Original language →

5. 1 Corinthians 3:5

   What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role.

   ›Commentary on 1 Corinthians 3:52 voices

   “Then when he says, What then is Apollos? he spurns their judgment, insofar as they attributed more to their ministers than they deserved. First, he discloses the truth; secondly, he excluded their error (v. 18). In regard to the first he does two things: first, …

   “Who then is Paul? and who is Apollos?....

   Everything gathered on 1 Corinthians 3:5→

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6. 1 Thessalonians 3:2

   We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith,

   ›Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 3:22 voices

   “Since the Thessalonians were troubled by the fact that their teacher was subjected to trials, they had need of strengthening and consolation, so as not to fall away from the faith. For the trials of a teacher cause no small disturbance to the disciples, just …

   “And sent Timotheus our brother,....

   Everything gathered on 1 Thessalonians 3:2→

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7. 1 Timothy 3:8–13

   Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued or given to much wine or greedy for money.

   ›Commentary on 1 Timothy 3:8–131 voice

   What Moses taught, Abraham observed. What Abraham observed, Noah and Enoch acknowledged, discriminating pure from impure and becoming acceptable to God. For Abel too in this way witnessed, knowing what he had learned from Adam. This one himself had learned from that Lord, who said, when he came at the end of the ages for the abolishment of sin, "I give no new commandment to you, but an old commandment, which you have heard from the beginning."

   Everything gathered on 1 Timothy 3:8–13→

   Verse page →Original language →