Summary

Cornelis Van Dam, professor emeritus of Old Testament at the Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary, gives the deacon’s office a book-length treatment, following it from its Old Testament roots through the New Testament to the practice of mercy ministry today.

He contends that the diaconate matters even in prosperous congregations with few materially poor, because the office’s significance goes well beyond meeting material needs. It is a companion to his earlier study of the office of elder.

Excerpt

God’s gift of the office of deacon and the blessings associated with it may not always be fully appreciated, especially in congregations that are financially prosperous and do not have many materially poor in their midst. However, as this book hopes to demonstrate, the importance of the diaconate goes far beyond simply providing for material needs. In order to get a proper understanding of the significance of this office, we must consider it within the context of the entire Bible.

The Deacon: The Biblical Roots and the Ministry of Mercy Today

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