So you are saying that διάκονος does NOT mean "servant"?!?!
Seriously? Words mean things and you cannot change those meanings just because you want to. The word does in fact mean "service" which includes waiting on tables. The context defines whether it speaks of a church office or some form of help - like being a table-waiter or maid or dishwasher or... In the absence of clear contextual witness then one must assume it means what it generally means – a servant. This is especially true when other statements by the same writer clearly contradict the hoped for meaning such as Paul in
1 Timothy 3 where he clearly states that the wives of the διάκονος must be… Clearly revealing that Paul only recognized men as διάκονος.
διάκονος absolutely means "servant".
Here, this is from Strong's (G1249) which most people have:
an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.
I could post a plethora of other sources but it would most likely fall on deaf ears.
To the point about relationships with the church, As pointed out, when referring to an official position within the church, it is speaking of men.
Rom 13:4 - the ruler is a διάκονος (servant) and terror to evil - speaking of governments in general not any one individual. This is telling us about the “service” of governments in containing and discouraging evil.
Romans 15:8 Jesus was a διάκονος (servant) of the circumcision.
Again revealing the essence of the word - servant-hood not a church officer, especially not a junior officer as Christ is the head…
1 Cor. 3:5 Paul and Apollos are called διάκονος (servants) again implying service not as a junior officer in the church but servants to all. Again “service” in general not a position.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Paul is referring to himself and calling himself a servant to the church. He is not suggesting he is in a lesser role of a junior.
2 Corinthians 6:4
The context again is speaking of διάκονος (service) in general and not speaking of a specific church office. Every Christian is a διάκονος (servant) to God. Wow! Makes me wonder if you believe everyone is a “deacon” in your church…
2 Corinthians 11:15
Once again we see the term used in the normal general sense of “servant-hood”.
2 Corinthians 11:23
Once again the word is used in the sense of servant-hood not as a junior office holder of the church.
I skipped Ephesians because it is more of the same. Another scripture that reveals that διάκονος means to be a servant.
Ephesians 6:21
Finally a verse that could refer to an office holder of “deacon”. But there is nothing in the context of this verse to suggest that he was in fact a deacon and not just someone who was a faithful διάκονος (servant). He may or may not have been. There is not enough information from this verse to say one way or the other.
Colossians 1:7
The same goes for this verse. The individual may have been a servant as we found in
2 Cor. 6:4 every Christian is a διάκονος to God.
Colossians 1:23
Back to the same general statements of Paul being a διάκονος (servant) to all and not a junior officer in the church.
Colossians 1:25
Same as
Col. 1:23.
Colossians 4:7
Once again there is not enough information to state matter of factually that Tychicus was a deacon, a junior office holder in the church.
1 Timothy 3:8
This one in context with
1 Timothy 3:12 precludes women from being διάκονος within the church as an junior officer of the church. Therefore, Phebe could not be, based upon Paul’s qualifications a διάκονος within the organizational church.
1 Timothy 4:6
Paul is simply telling Timothy that if he did all those things he told him, then Timothy would be a good διάκονος (servant) to God. Once again speaking generally of service an not of an office.
Then there are contexts such as
Jn. 2:5 where the διάκονος (servants) explicitly waited on tables, were maids, dish washers etc.
So much more could be said…
The term διάκονος means servant period. The church used the term for junior officers within the church because Jesus said to be διάκονος (servants) to all. Thus, they used the term for a position of authority within the church and reminding those in the position that they are servants foremost. It is silly to assume that this term can only mean a position of authority within the church. As for Phebe, Paul explicitly forbid her from holding that position by his, Holy Ghost inspired, qualifications.
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