διάκονος

G1249 G:N-M/F

servant

διάκονος , -ου, ὁ, ἡ (derivation unknown), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Est.6:3 , 5, א B Est.1:10 2:2 , Pro.10:4 , 4Ma.9:17 * ;] __1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister : Mat.20:26 22:13 23:11 , Mrk.9:35 10:43 , Jhn.2:5 , 9, 1Co.3:5 , Gal.2:17 , Eph.6:21 , Col.4:7 ; δ. θεοῦ, Rom.13:4 , 2Co.6:4 , 1Th.3:2 ; δ. Χριστοῦ, 2Co.11:23 , Col.1:7 , 1Ti.4:6 ; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, Jhn.12:26; δ. περιτομῆς, Rom.15:8; δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, 2Co.3:6; δ. δικαιοσύνης, 2Co.11:15; δ. [εὐαγγελίου], Eph.3:7 , Col.1:23 ; δ. [ἐκκλησίας], Col.1:25. __2. As technical term for Church officer (so in pre-Christian times, see M, Th. , I, 32), a deacon : Php.1:1 , 1Ti.3:8, 12 ; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Rom.16:1 (cf. 1Ti.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 . (AS)