λειτουργία, -ας, ἡ
(< λειτουργέω), [in LXX chiefly for עֲבֹדָה, Nu 4:24, I Ch 9:13, al.;]
1. in cl. (chiefly of Athens), the discharge of a public office at one's own expense (v. LS, s.v.), hence,
2. a service, ministry; in π. (Deiss., BS, 140 f.) and in LXX (though here also of secular service, III Ki 1:4, al.), of religious service or ministration; and so in NT: of priestly ministrations, Lk 1:23, He 8:69:21; fig., θυσία καὶ λ. τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, Phl 2:17; of Christian beneficence, II Co 9:12, Phl 2:30.†