Duties of a deacon.—As the office and duties of a deacon have been frequently inquired after, we will endeavor to define it, more in particular.
First, we will examine its definition. This word is translated from the Greek, diakonos, which, according to Greenfield's Greek Lexicon, is "a minister, one who renders service to another, an attendant, servant,—a deacon or deaconess, one who collects and distributes alms to the poor, overseer of the poor, almoner. Rom. xvi, 1; Phil. i, 1; 1 Tim. iii, 8, 12."
Therefore the seven who were appointed to this office were to see to "the daily ministrations" of food for the poor widows who were neglected in these things, that the twelve might give themselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word." So there were two ministrations at that time, one to see to the temporal wants of the church, the other to the spiritual wants of the same. This would call for two classes of servants in the church, differing in their duties.
"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant (or deaconess) of the church which is at Cenchrea. That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you; for she hath been a succorer (or helper) of many, and of myself also.
Greet Priscilla and Aquilla my helpers in Christ Jesus.
These deacons and deaconesses were considered servants, helpers or laborers with the apostles in the gospel, not that they preached the word, but ministered or served their temporal wants.
We will here make an extract from Dr. A. Clarke's Commentary. "There were deaconesses in the primitive church, whose business it was to attend the female converts at baptism; to instruct the catechumens, or persons who were candidates for baptism; to visit the sick, and those who were in prison; and, in short, perform those religious offices, for the female part of the church, which could not with propriety be performed by men. They were chosen in general out of the most experienced of the church; and were ordinarily widows, who had borne children. Some ancient constitutions required them to be forty, others fifty, and others sixty years of age. It is evident that they were ordained to their office, by the imposition of the hands of the bishop; and the form of prayer used on the occasion is extant in the apostolic constitutions. In the tenth or eleventh century the order became extinct in the Latin church; but continued in the Greek church till the end of the twelfth century.—See Broughton's Dictionary, Article, Deaconess.
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 1 Tim. v, 9, 10.
There can be but little doubt that this refers to the office of a deaconess. Widows indeed are those who promise to abide in their widowhood, and receive the office of a deaconess. Relieved the afflicted—visited and ministered to the sick.—Clarke.
Says John Brown, "But it is chiefly used to signify an officer in the church, whose business it is to serve in distributing the elements at the Lord's table, and to provide for, and duly distribute provision to ministers, and to the poor. Phil. i, 1. It is plain, some of the first seven deacons were afterwards preachers; but nowhere do the sacred oracles hint, that preaching belonged to the office of a deacon. 1 Tim. iii, 8-12. For many ages after Christ, they were considered as inferior to presbyters.—Dictionary, under the head, Deacon.
Deacon. 1 Tim. iii, 10. This name, as a title of office, was first given to seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, who were appointed over the business of serving tables, in order that the apostles might be at liberty to give themselves continually to prayer and the ministry of the word. They were set apart by prayer and the laying on of the apostles' hands. Acts vi, 1-4.
The female ministers, or deaconesses, were probably employed in attending upon those of their own sex, in some of the same offices and duties which the deacons performed for their brethren.—Union Bible Dict.
Now as the apostle Paul addressed a letter to the church at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons we shall expect to find something said in that letter about the duties of deacons.
"Because for the work of Christ he (Epaphroditus) was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service towards me. And I entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel. Now ye Philippians, know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. Not because I desired a gift; but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. But I have all, and abound. I am full (satisfied) having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you. Phil. iv, 3, 15-18.
The plain, simple fact appears to have been that inasmuch as the deacons were addressed that they made collections of gifts from the church and sent them by the hand of Epaphroditus to Paul without his desire or request. For this he sends his thankful praise, telling them what they might expect in return from the Lord. Gal. ii, 10. Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.
1 Cor. xvi, 1-4. Now concerning the collection for the saints as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
Acts xi, 29, 30. Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judea. Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Here Paul gives directions to the church to go to work upon the first day of the week to make gatherings or collections in store, that when he should be in Corinth on the Sabbath, as usual, [Acts xviii, 1, 4.] that he could be ready to leave on the first day of the week without hindrance. Now as deacons were in the churches, whose business could it be to see to these things but theirs, as everybody's business very often becomes nobody's business?
The office of deacon may be of more importance for time to come than it has been before as the day of trouble rolls on. Would it not be well then brethren to appoint in all the churches deacons and deaconesses who may answer the qualifications that are laid down clearly in the Bible, with an understanding what their duties are.
In one word, they are to see to all the temporal interests of the several churches where they are appointed.
1. To see to the poor and destitute that may belong to the church; such as widows, orphans, the sick and afflicted that may be among us.
2. That it is the duty of such to first inquire into the wants of the cause, to introduce them to the church where they belong, at any proper time, to raise means for the support of the truth. That such be considered the treasurers and agents of the church where they belong in all matters of finance.
3. That it may be the duty to keep on hand good wine [John ii, 10] from grapes or raisins, for the ready ministration of the ordinances at any time on the visits of the messengers, which ordinances are too much neglected for the want of preparation; also to see to all other necessary preparations for the ordinances.
Some may say that the times are different now than in the days of the apostles, and we have no need of the office of deacon, as then. But we will say, as the office of deacon then included all the temporal affairs of the church under its then existing circumstances, so it does now include all the present temporal affairs of the church of God.
And we will say further, that whosoever will be a faithful deacon or servant of the church of God will find that the office is not a mere name without anything to do; but will find much to see to in these respects.
We will close for the encouragement of deacons, with the words of Paul to Timothy, "For they that have used the office of a deacon will purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. J. B. F.