v. Apostle, Servant
Psa 103:21 m his, who do his will
104:4
Minister (Heb. usually from a form of the verb shârath, “to serve”). This term applies to: 1. The servants of a royal court, as in the case of those who attended Solomon (1Ki 10:5; “those who served him”, KJV). 2. Those who helped a person of high rank, sense in which Joshua served Moses (Jos 1:1). 3. The priests and Levites, who were “ministers of Jehovah” by attending to their duties in the sanctuary and the temple (Eze 44:11; Jl. 1:9, 13; etc.). 4. The angels (Psa 103:21; 104:4). In the NT the term is translated from: 1. Gr. hup’rét’s, literally “one who rows below” (from hupó + eretes ) and, by extension, “a helper” or “subordinate” who acts voluntarily under the direction of another (as in the case of the minister of the synagogue of Nazareth, who brought Jesus the scroll of the prophet Isaiah for the reading of the prophets, and John Mark, who ministered to Paul and Barnabas during their 1st missionary journey; Act 13:5 ). 2. Gr. leitourgós, “who holds a public office”, “public servant”. The term is used primarily with a religious connotation, as in the case of: a. Christ as the heavenly “minister of the sanctuary” (Heb 8:2). b. The apostle Paul as an evangelist to the Gentiles (Rom 15:16). c. Government officials who, while not consciously acting as representatives of God, perform certain functions ordained by God, thus they are called “servants of God” (13:6). 3. Gr. diákonos, “servant”, not as a position in society, but as an activity, “a helper”, “a servant”; like Timothy (1Th 3:2), Paul and Apollos (1Co 3:5) and Tychicus (Eph 6:21), as ministers of the gospel. Diakonos is also used of church deacons, but this is the word used in those cases (Phi 1:1; 1 Tit 3:8, 12). In general, hup’rét’s refers to a minister in relation to his superior, leitourgós in relation to his public responsibilities, and diakonos in relation to his work. All 3 terms are used for ministers of the gospel. 4. Gr. dunást’s (Act 8:27, “official”, RVR), a court official.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
(Heb., sharath, shareth; Gr., diakonos, leiturgis, hyperetes).
Originally he was a servant, although he was different from a slave who works against his will, or an employee who works for his salary (Exo 24:13 KJV-1960 servant, KJV helper). The word hyperetes, which originally referred to an oarsman below, or under the command of the helmsman, is also used for a minister (Luk 4:20 KJV). The same word is used when referring to John Mark (Acts 13:5). God himself has his ministers, the angels (Psa 103: 21 RVR-1960; Psa 104: 4 RVR-1960; RVA his servants). The priests of Israel are also ministers of God (Jer 33:21-22). The word diakonos, or deacon, in the NT means minister and indicates the duties as well as the privileges of this position. Deacons should not be confused with elders or bishops.
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
Term with which is defined in many religious groups, churches and sects, the person in charge of acts of worship and pastoral services.
It implies the idea of “service” (ministrare, to serve in Latin) and of dedication to the community to which one belongs. And it also indicates simplicity, humility, availability and generosity.
Pedro Chico González, Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy, Editorial Bruño, Lima, Peru 2006
Source: Dictionary of Catechesis and Religious Pedagogy
This term translates the Hebrew mescha·reth and the Greek di·a·ko·nos. The Hebrew word is the participle of the verb scha·rath, which means “attend” or “minister” to a superior, and is used in both a religious and secular sense. (Ge 39:4; De 10:8) Concerning the word di·a·ko·nos, D. Edmond Hiebert wrote in Bibliotheca Sacra: “The term has been said to be composed of the preposition , meaning † ˜through†™, and the noun , †˜dust†™, thus referring to one who rushes through the dust in order to render a service. This derivation, however, is not currently widely accepted. It is more likely that the verb stem was †˜to go from one place to another†™, which is related to the verb , †˜to go quickly after something†™ or †˜to chase†™. So its etymology conveys the idea of someone who constantly and diligently strives to perform a service on behalf of others† (1983, vol. 140, p. 153).
In Hebrew and Greek these and related words apply to both males and females. (2Sa 13:17, 18; 1Ki 1: 4, 15; 2Co 3: 6; Ro 16: 1) Joshua was the minister (or, servant) of Moses † œfrom his youth onward †. (Nu 11:28; Jos 1: 1, footnote) Elisha’s servant was called his minister and his servant. (2Ki 4:43; 6:15) Kings and princes had their royal servants or ministers (2Ch 22:8; Es 2:2; 6:3), some of whom served the royal table. (1Ki 10:4, 5; 2Ch 9:3, 4)
Angelic ministers of Jehovah. Jehovah God created tens of millions of angels, all of whom he controls and can call by name, as in the case of countless stars. (Ps 147:4) They are his ministers and carry out his will in the universe. (Ps 103:20, 21) The psalmist says that Jehovah “makes his angels his spirits, his ministers a devouring fire.” (Ps 104:4) They are said to be “spirits for public service, sent out to minister for those who are to inherit salvation.” (Heb 1:13, 14) Some angels ministered to Jesus in the wilderness after he overcame Satan’s attempts to turn him away from obedience to Jehovah (Mt 4:11); An angel also appeared to him and strengthened him while he was praying in Gethsemane. (Lu 22:43) In the vision of the prophet Daniel in which “someone like a son of man” is given indefinite rulership over all peoples and languages, millions of angels are seen ministering before the throne of the Ancient One of days. (Da 7:9-14.)
The tribe of Levi. After the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, and when the nation was organized under the Law covenant, Jehovah chose the males of the tribe of Levi as his special ministers. (Nu 3:6; 1Ch 16:4) Some of them, Aaron’s family, would be priests. (De 17:12; 21:5; 1Ki 8:11; Jer 33:21) The Levites had various responsibilities in their ministry: some cared for the sanctuary with all its utensils, others were ministers in song, and so on. (Nu 3:7, 8; 1Ch 6:32.)
Prophets. In addition to using all the men from the tribe of Levi, Jehovah used others to minister to his people Israel in a special way. These were the prophets, whom Jehovah appointed and commissioned individually. Although there were priestly lineage or descent, many belonged to other tribes of Israel. (See PROPHET.) They were messengers of Jehovah; they were sent to warn the nation when it strayed from the Law, and they tried to turn kings and people back to true worship. (2Ch 36:15, 16; Jer 7:25, 26) His prophecies helped, encouraged, and strengthened the righteous in heart, especially during times of spiritual and moral decline, and when Israel was threatened by enemies who they surrounded her. (2Ki 7; Isa 37:21-38.)
His prophecies also pointed to Jesus Christ and the Messianic Kingdom. (Re 19:10) John the Baptist did an outstanding work of turning “the heart of fathers to sons, and the heart of sons to fathers,” in order to prepare the way for Jehovah’s representative, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mal 4:5, 6; Mt 11:13, 14; Lu 1:77-79) The prophets not only ministered to their contemporaries, but, as the apostle Peter writes to Christians, “it was revealed to them who, not to themselves, but to you, ministered the things that have now been announced to you through those who have declared the glad tidings to you with holy spirit sent down from heaven. Into these very things the angels wish to look carefully† . (1Pe 1:10-12.)
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is Jehovah’s chief minister (di·a·ko·nos). “He became a minister to the circumcised on behalf of the truthfulness of God, to confirm the promises He made to their forefathers, and so that the nations might glorify God for his mercy.”† Therefore, “in him they will rest their hope nations† . (Ro 15:8-12.)
The appointment of Jesus came from Jehovah himself. When he presented himself to be baptized, “the heavens were opened,” says the account, “and he saw the spirit of God descending on him like a dove. Look! There was also a voice from heaven saying: †˜This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved†™† . (Mt 3:16, 17) During his prehuman existence Jesus had served Jehovah from time immemorial, but he took up a new ministry. By serving both God and his fellow man, he proved that he was truly God’s minister. Thus, in the synagogue in Nazareth, the town where he grew up, Jesus was able to pick up the scroll of Isaiah and read what is now chapter 61, verses 1 and 2: “The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to preach good news to the meek. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to those who have been taken captive and wide opening of the eyes even to prisoners; to proclaim the year of good will from Jehovah† . Then he continued saying to those who were gathered there: † œToday this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled †. (Lu 4:16-21.)
When Peter preached to Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, he told him about the course of Jesus during his three and a half years of earthly ministry, explaining that “he was from Nazareth, how God anointed him with holy spirit and power, and he went through the land making good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him† . (Ac 10:38) Jesus literally toured all of his assigned territory in the service of Jehovah and the people. Not only that, but he even gave his very soul as a ransom for others. He himself said: † œThe Son of man did not come to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many †. (Mt 20:28.)
Christian ministers. Jesus wanted his apostles and disciples to associate with him in his ministerial work, and he prepared them to carry on the same ministerial work. At first he sent the twelve, then another seventy. The active force of God was also upon them, and enabled them to perform many miracles. (Mt 10:1, 5-15, 27, 40; Lu 10:1-12, 16) Their main work, however, was to preach and teach the good news of God’s kingdom. In fact, the main purpose of the miracles was to publicly demonstrate that they had Jehovah’s appointment and approval. (Heb 2:3, 4)
Jesus taught his…