The Biblical Foundation of the Diaconate

Summary

George W. Knight III, a New Testament scholar best known for his commentary on the Pastoral Epistles, wrote this short Ordained Servant article on the biblical basis of the deacon’s office. He traces the word diakonos from its general sense of servant, modeled on Christ the Servant of the Lord, to its technical use for the office in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3, and gives three arguments for reading the seven of Acts 6 as the first deacons.

From that account he draws the office’s two defining principles: a ministry of mercy to the needy within the church, and assistance that frees the elders for the Word, exercised in subjection to the elders’ rule.

He closes by arguing that the women of 1 Timothy 3:11 are deacons’ wives and that Phoebe is a servant in the general sense, so Scripture reserves the office to men.

Excerpt

That designation of servant links these officers with their great example and model, Jesus Christ the Servant of the Lord. He points to his own life of service as the model for Christians when he says in Mark 10:43-45: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” One of the ways that Jesus served was in feeding the multitudes and in caring for the needy. He showed particular compassion for widows and welcomed little ones to himself and blessed them.

The Biblical Foundation of the Diaconate

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