- διακονία
- διακονία, ας, ἡ (s. διακονέω, διάκονος; Thu. et al.; IG XII/5, 600, 14 [III B.C.]; PFouad 25 verso I, 1 [II A.D.]; 1 Macc 11:58; Esth 6:3, 5 [both v.l.]; TestJob 11:1ff, 15:1; Joseph.)① service rendered in an intermediary capacity, mediation, assignment, δ. τῆς λειτουργίας mediation of this public obligation 2 Cor 9:12; cp. 13. ἡ δ. ἡ εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ my embassy in behalf of J. (=my role as delivery agent [for the gift] for J. The v.l. δωροφορία indicates that δ. denotes intermediary function; the context informs the reader that the mission involves the bringing of a gift) Ro 15:31; cp. 2 Cor 8:4; 9:1.—On the ‘collection’: ELombard, RTP 35, 1902, 113–39; 262–81; MGoguel, RHPR 4, 1925, 301–18; KNickle, The Collection ’66.—πνεύματα εἰς δ. ἀποστελλόμενα spirits sent out on assignment Hb 1:14.② performance of a serviceⓐ gener. service πρὸς τὸν καταρτισμὸν τ. ἁγίων εἰς ἔργον διακονίας to prepare God’s people for productive service Eph 4:12 (the rendering [as later edd. of RSV, also NRSV, REB] assumes that no comma, as in KJV, RV, RSV1, JB et al., is to be placed before εἰς [difft. 3 below]); δ. τοῦ λόγου Ac 6:4; ἡ ὑμῶν δ. service to you 2 Cor 11:8.—1 Cor 16:15; 2 Ti 4:11; Rv 2:19.ⓑ specif. engagement in preparations for a social event, such as a meal (s. Plut., Philopoem. 357 [2, 3]: a Megarian hostess mistakes the statesman P. for one of his aides and sets him to chop wood as part of the διάκονια or preparations for a meal; Jos., Ant. 2, 65; 11, 163 διακονεῖν τινι τὴν ἐπὶ τοῦ πότου διακονίαν) περιεσπᾶτο περὶ πολλὴν δ. (Martha) was distracted w. many preparations Lk 10:40.③ functioning in the interest of a larger public, service, office of the prophets and apostles 1 Ti 1:12; κλῆρος τῆς δ. Ac 1:17; τόπος τῆς δ. vs. 25. Of the service of the Levites 1 Cl 40:5; the office of an ecclesiastical overseer IPhld 1:1; 10:2; ISm 12:1; Hs 9, 27, 2; δ. λαμβάνειν receive a ministry Ac 20:24. διαιρέσεις διακονιῶν 1 Cor 12:5; δ. τοῦ θανάτου ministry of death: of the OT law 2 Cor 3:7. Also δ. τῆς κατακρίσεως min. of condemnation vs. 9. Opp. δ. τῆς δικαιοσύνης min. of righteousness ibid.; δ. τοῦ πνεύματος min. of the Spirit vs. 8 of service in behalf of the Gospel; cp. Ac 21:19; Ro 11:13; 2 Cor 4:1; 6:3; Col 4:17; 2 Ti 4:5; δ. τῆς καταλλαγῆς ministry of reconciliation 2 Cor 5:18; τὴν δ. τελέσαι carry out this assignment Hm 2:6; concerning obedience and exhortation 12, 3, 3; Hs 1:9; 2:7. τελειῶσαι … τὴν δʼ discharge … my responsibility Ac 20:34.—Eph 4:12 belongs here if, with KJV, RV, RSV1 et al. and contrary to N. and other edd., a comma is placed before εἰς (s. Collins [at 5, end, below] 233f).④ rendering of specific assistance, aid, support (Arrian, Peripl. 3, 1 εἰς διακονίαν=for support), esp. of alms and charitable giving (AcThom 59 [Aa II/2, 176, 2] χρήματα πολλὰ εἰς διακονίαν τῶν χηρῶν=much money to take care of the widows) Ac 6:1. εἰς δ. πέμψαι τί τινι send someone someth. for support 11:29; cp. 12:25.⑤ an administrative function, service as attendant, aide, or assistant (Eng. loanw. ‘deacon’; Hippol., Ref. 7, 36, 3) Ro 12:7 (Ltzm., ZWT 55, 1913, 110); IMg 6:1; IPhld 10:2; Hs 9, 26, 2.—PAbbing, Diakonia, diss. Utrecht ’50; BReicke, Diakonie, Festfreude u. Zelos usw. ’51, 19–164; RAC III 909–17; WBrandt, Dienst u. Duienen im NT ’31 (diss. Münster: Diakonie u. das NT, 1923); JCollins, Diakonia ’90.—DELG s.v. διάκονος. M-M. TW. Sv.
Ελληνικά-Αγγλικά παλαιοχριστιανική Λογοτεχνία. 2015.