λειτουργέω, -ῶ
(< λειτουργός), [in LXX chiefly for שׁרת pi., also for עבד, צבא, etc.;]
1. in cl., at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost, render public service to the State, hence, generally,
2. to serve the State, do a service, serve (of service to the Gods, Diod., i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites (Ex 29:30, Nu 16:9, Si 4:14, I Mac 10:42, al.; cf. Deiss., BS, 140 f.), He 10:11; of Christians: c. dat. pers. seq. ἐν, Ro 15:27 (cf. Si 10:25); τ. κυρίῳ, Ac 13:2.†
SYN.: λατρεύω (q.v.), prop., to serve for hire, LXX (as sometimes in cl.), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people (Ex 4:3, De 10:12, and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates (Ro 13:615:27, are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr., Syn., § xxxv; ICC on Ro 1:9; Westc., He., 232 ff.).