Let’s look first at what a deacon is according to the Bible.  In the KJV, the Greek word for ‘deacon or deacons’ is only found five times.  (Philippians 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:8, 10, 12, 13).  However, this same word is translated as ‘minister’, ‘servant’ or ‘served’ throughout the New Testament.  A couple of examples are:

  • Colossians 1:7, “As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful MINISTER of Christ.”
  • John 12:2, “There they made him a supper; and Martha SERVED: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.”

The first example we have of appointed deacons is in Acts 6:1-7, “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.”

From this, we see the difference between ministering the Word of God and ministering to the physical needs of the Lord’s people.  The seven men were chosen to serve in a physical capacity (what the apostle called to ‘serve tables’) while they continued to minister the Word of God.  The word ‘serve’ is also the same word translated as ‘deacon, minister, or servant.’  In 1 Timothy 3:8-13, we have the work of the deacon in the local church and the qualifications for this type of service to the Lord.  Even though the work of a deacon is mainly physical work, the qualifications are spiritual.  We read in verses 10-12, “And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.”  The functioning deacon must first be ‘proved’ or ‘approved’ by the local church as to their testimony.  Also, their wives must exhibit a good testimony.  The deacons must demonstrate godliness in their homes…loving their wives, having their children under proper subjection to their authority and their homes having a godly testimony.  This ‘physical work’ among the local church will be seen by all, including the world of the unsaved.  It is important that those who are seen in work in the local church have a testimony that will encourage and inspire the unsaved…not give the unsaved reason to despise and criticize the church because of the reputation of the servants among them. 

From what we’ve seen so far, the Lord has given the work of a deacon to men…the seven first appointed, and the qualifications for a deacon in 1 Timothy show the work is for men.  However, we must consider a lady named Phebe mentioned in Romans 16:1, “I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a SERVANT of the church which is at Cenchrea.”  The word for servant here, describing Phebe, is the same as the word for deacon!  This epistle to the Romans, with the apostle’s commendation of Phebe, was meant to introduce its bearer to the saints in Rome. The mention of Phebe in this manner leaves no doubt that she either carried this epistle to Rome, or she accompanied those who carried it.

Too often, we make a big deal out of someone being appointed or ordained to do a particular work in the church.  Phebe was a faithful woman who obviously desired to follow and serve the Lord, and in doing that, she was, in effect, a servant of the Lord…or a deaconess.  There are some who have the gift of being an evangelist (Ephesians 4:11).  Although we all do not have this gift of evangelism, we all are exhorted to “do the work of an evangelist.” (2 Timothy 4:5).  So, in the case of Phebe, it seems that she was led of the Lord to do a particular work, therefore she was doing the work of a deaconess as the Lord directed her. May we all have such a willing heart so that the Lord might use us according to His good pleasure.  (CC)  (709.4)