Compendium on the Diaconate by LEV

Author:LEV
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Published: 2013-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

2. Data from the New Testament

The first fundamental fact of relevance from the New Testament is that the verb diakonein designates Christ’s actual mission as servant (Mk 10:45 and parallels; cf. Mt 12:18; Acts 4:30; Phil 2:6-11). This word or its derivatives also designate the exercise of service or ministry by his disciples (Mk 10:43ff.; Mt 20:26ff.; 23:11; Lk 8:3; Rom 15:25), the ministries of different kinds in the Church, especially the apostolic ministry of preaching the Gospel, and other charismatic gifts.500

The words diakonein and diakonos are widely used, with a wide range of meanings, in the language of the New Testament.501

The diakonos may mean the servant who waits at table (e.g., Jn 2:5 and 9), the servant of the Lord (Mt 22:13; Jn 12:26; Mk 9:35; 10:43; Mt 20:26; 23:11), the servant of a spiritual power (2 Cor 11:14; Eph 3:6; Col 1:23; Gal 2:17; Rom 15:8; 2 Cor 3:6), the servant of the Gospel, of Christ or of God (2 Cor 11:23). Pagan authorities are also in the service of God (Rom 13:4); the deacons are the servants of the Church (Col 1:25; 1 Cor 3:5). In the case where the deacon belongs to one of the Churches, the Vulgate does not use the word minister, but retains the Greek word diaconus.502 This fact shows clearly that in Acts 6:1-6 it is not the institution of the diaconate which is being referred to.503

“Diaconate” and “apostolate” are sometimes synonymous, as in Acts 1:17-25, where, on the occasion of the addition of Matthias to the eleven Apostles, Peter calls the apostolate “a share in our service” (v. 17: ton kleron tes diakonias tautes) and speaks of service and apostolate (v. 25: ton topon tes diakonias kai apostoles, which is sometimes translated as “the service of the apostolate.” This text from Acts also quotes Psalm 109:8: “Let another take over his position [ten episkopen].” The question therefore arises as to whether diakonia, apostole, and episkope are equivalent to each other or not. In the opinion of M.J. Schmitt and J. Colson, “apostolate” is “an editorial term correcting ‘diakonias.’”504

Acts 6:1-6 describes the institution of the “Seven”505 “to serve at tables.” The reason for this is given by Luke as stemming from internal tensions within the community: “The Hellenists complained [egeneto goggysmos] against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food” (Acts 6:1). It has not yet been ascertained whether the widows of the “Hellenists” belonged to the community or not, according to strict respect for ritual purity. Were the Apostles hoping to send to the provinces the rebellious “Hellenists” of Jerusalem who, in their preaching in the synagogue, were responsible for much provocation? Is this why the Apostles chose “Seven,” which was the number of provincial community magistrates attached to a synagogue? But at the same time, through the imposition of hands, they wished to preserve the unity of the Spirit and avoid a schism.506 Commentators on Acts do not explain the significance of this laying on of the Apostles’ hands.

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