Who Are Deacons and What Do They Do?

September 25, 2023

“Deacon” is not a translation but a transliteration. A transliteration is when you spell a word of one language in the corresponding letters or characters of another language. The Greek word is “diakonos” (Strong’s number G1249). It is usually translated as servant or minister. The definition in the standard Greek dictionary of the New Testament is: (1) one who serves as an intermediary in a transaction, agent, intermediary, courier, and (2) one who gets something done, at the behest of a superior, assistant.* A number of groups and individuals are called “diakonos” in the New Testament.

  • Servants of a king: Matt. 22:13

  • Servants at a wedding: John 2:5, 9

  • Governmental rulers: Romans 13:4 (2x)

  • Christ: Romans 15:8, Galatians 2:17

  • Satan’s servants: 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

  • A number of individuals: Paul and Apollos (1 Cor. 3:5), Paul (Eph. 3:6-7, Col. 1:23, 25), Timothy (1 Tim. 4:6), Phoebe (Rom. 16:1), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21, Col. 4:7), and Epaphras (Col. 1:17).
• Disciples: Matt. 20:25, 23:11, Mark 9:35, 10:43, John 12:26, 2 Cor. 3:6, 11:23. • Deacons: Phil. 1:1, 1 Tim. 3:8, 3:10 (verb form), 3:12

It is not unusual for words to have a general use and a technical term use. There is a proper sense that all Christians are servants. Yet, it is also clear that there is a special group of servants in Philippians 1:1 who are distinguished from the other church members (i.e., the saints) and the overseers. The fact that we have qualifications in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 also indicates a specially appointed group of servants. Not everyone has the qualifications mentioned in this text.

But what do deacons do? The New Testament doesn’t give specifics. The word itself suggests that deacons assist the work of the overseers in some way. They are said to serve (diakoneō, G1247) in 1 Timothy 3:10. Acts 6:1-6 may at least be a case of proto-deacons. The men in this passage are not called deacons. Years later Philip is referred to as “one of the seven” (Acts 21:8). Yet the passage speaks of the “daily ministry” (diakonia, G1248) in Acts 6:1, and the apostles do not want to neglect the preaching of the word of God “to serve tables” (diakoneō, G1247) in Acts 6:2. Certainly to serve tables could refer to serving food at a table, but it could also mean “serve as accountants.”** The word table is associated with money changers and banking in the ancient world and therefore accounting. Even our English word “bank” comes from the “bench” of the money lender. The seven of this passage are either distributing food or funds.*** At any rate, the seven assisted and served in the work of the church so that the Apostles did not lose the focus of their ministry. It would seem that deacons function in the same way in relationship to overseers.

—Russ Holden

*A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Earl Christian Literature (abbreviated as BDAG), p. 230

**BDAG, s.v. trapeza, p. 1013

***Several English translations say in Acts 6:1 “daily distribution of food.” However, the Greek text only has “daily ministry” or “daily service” (cf. the KJV or ASV). I think it is an open question as to whether the Seven were distributing food or money. The bottom line was that they were taking care of widows.

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Posted by Russell Holden

The Two Pillars of Salvation

September 21, 2023

“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NAS95)

God chose, before time began, that those who are in Christ Jesus will experience His salvation. Because God called us to Himself through the gospel, you and I can be saved, and we can share in the glory of Jesus. What a blessed thought! But notice in this passage that our salvation comes through two very important concepts. You might say our salvation rests upon two pillars.

The first pillar upon which salvation is built is sanctification by the Spirit. If we do not have the Spirit dwelling within us, we have no hope of salvation, for if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Romans 8:9). And if the Spirit dwells within us, His presence should produce tangible effects within our lives. The Spirit will lead us into sanctification. Sanctification is holiness of life. Are you growing in holiness? Are you putting away the sinful things in your life and putting on the things of God?

Is the fruit of the Spirit evident in your life? We must be diligent to walk by the Spirit in holiness. Without sanctification, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).

The second pillar is faith in the truth. It was faith in the truth of the gospel message that brought us into a saved condition, and it is continuing faith in the truth that will lead us all the way home. To have faith in the truth is to trust in it. If we trust in the word of God, we will strive to live by it. If we have faith in the truth we won’t merely hear the word, but also act upon it. The word of truth is of no profit to us if we do not take what we hear and unite it with faith (Hebrews 4:2).

If you are in Christ, if you are pursuing sanctification by the power of the Spirit, and if you are continuing to have faith in the truth, you will be saved. You will gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is for this that He has called us through the gospel of Jesus!

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Russell Holden

How Hard It Is for the Wealthy

September 19, 2023

Have you listened carefully to some of the faith-based advice out there on getting out of debt and building wealth? Some of the advice I have heard is good and right, but some of it is very dangerous and unbiblical. We always need to approach “Christian” advice cautiously to make sure what is being said lines up with the word of God. This is especially true on the topic of wealth since the Lord has spoken with many sober warnings about the grave dangers of wealth.

It is said to try very hard to get out of debt. I believe this is generally good advice. It is said to spend at a level well below your means. This is also good advice. It is said to build up your savings and retirement accounts. I don’t see anything inherently wrong with this statement. It is advised to work hard at your job. This is sound biblical advice! We can do all these things with a heart to honor God with our wealth, to be generous, and to be good stewards of His blessings.

But listen carefully! Does some of the advice begin to go off the rails? It is advised: You should work a second and third job to build up your wealth more quickly. You should max out your retirement accounts so that you can live the good life someday. You should throw everything into building wealth now so that you can be generous with your money later. What is wrong with statements like these? Couldn’t they encourage us to make the gaining of wealth our main focus in life? While we’re working three jobs, are we neglecting our spiritual lives? Our families? While we’re setting ourselves up to live the good life someday, do we consider that our souls may be required of us today? While we tell ourselves that we’re doing this to be more generous someday, has it occurred to us that our hearts can become clouded with the pursuit of riches and that we may no longer want to be generous when “someday” arrives? Have we considered that God wants us to be generous and share now (as we are able)?

The words Jesus spoke about wealth need to be burned into our minds and our hearts: “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” (Luke 18:24 NAS95) Are we hearing Jesus? Will we heed the warning? When we make being rich our focus in life, we are putting ourselves in great danger. Yes, the rich can enter, but Jesus said, “how hard it is!” That should make us stop and think about our priorities in life! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle! This is only possible by a miraculous act of God. Brethren, let us be very careful that we do not fall into the love of money. Examine the advice you are given very carefully in light of the word of God. Our souls are at stake!

— Scott Colvin

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Posted by Russell Holden

Fasting: What is it About?

September 12, 2023

Have you given much thought about fasting?  Many references to fasting fill the pages of scripture, and yet we don’t talk about it much, and many Christians do not practice it.  What is fasting all about?  Is fasting something we are “commanded” to do?  While fasting may not be commanded for Christians, it is clearly something that has great spiritual value.  Jesus Himself fasted (Matthew 4:1-2) and pronounced that God will reward those who fast with the right motives (Matthew 6:18).  We also can see that both the saints of old and the saints of the 1st century church practiced fasting.  Let us turn to the word to see some of the important purposes of this spiritual practice.

Fasting is a way in which we can humble ourselves before God as we pray to Him.  Listen to the words of Ezra: “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey…” (Ezra 8:21 NAS95)

Fasting is a way in which we can more fully turn our attention to the Lord and seek His face, as the prophet Daniel wrote, “So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting… (Daniel 9:3 NAS95)

Fasting is associated with repentance from sin.  The prophet Joel writes: “‘Yet even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning’…” (Joel 2:12 NAS95)

Fasting was practiced by the early church when embarking on an important work.  It is said of the prophets and teachers in Antioch, “While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’  Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:2-3 NAS95) Thus began the first missionary journey of Barnabas and Saul.  In this account, it seems that the apostles and teachers were fasting as part of their usual ministry, but then, upon receiving word from the Spirit to commission Barnabas and Saul, they fasted some more as they prayed for the work they were about to begin. There are many other passages that we could mention, but these should suffice to show us the value of fasting.  Perhaps it is something you and I can incorporate into our own walk with God. 

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Posted by Scott Colvin