διάκονος, -ου, ὁ, ἡ
(derivation unknown), [in LXX for נַעַר, שָׁרַת pi.: Es 6:3, 5, א B Es 1:102:2, Pr 10:4, 4 Mac 9:17 *;]
1. in general, a servant, attendant, minister: Mt 20:2622:1323:11, Mk 9:3510:43, Jo 2:5, 9, I Co 3:5, Ga 2:17, Eph 6:21, Col 4:7; δ. θεοῦ, Ro 13:4, II Co 6:4, I Th 3:2; δ. Χριστοῦ, II Co 11:23, Col 1:7, I Ti 4:6; cf. ὁ δ. ὁ ἐμός, Jo 12:26; δ. περιτομῆς, Ro 15:8; δ. καινῆς διαθήκης, II Co 3:6; δ. δικαιοσύνης, II Co 11:15; δ. [εὐαγγελίου], Eph 3:7, Col 1:23; δ. [ἐκκλησίας], Col 1:25.
2. As technical term for Church officer (so in pre-Christian times, v. M, Th., I, 32), a deacon: Phl 1:1, I Ti 3:8, 12; fem. (cf. Eccl. διακονίσσα), Ro 16:1 (cf. I Ti 3:11, and CGT, in l., also M, Th., l.c.).†
SYN.: δοῦλος, bondman; θεράπων, servant acting voluntarily; ὑπηρέτης, servant, attendant, by etymol. suggesting subordination. All these imply relation to a person, in distinction from which δ. represents rather the servant in relation to his work. Cf. also λειτουργός, a public servant, in which the idea of service to the community is prominent; οἰκέτης, a house servant.