[Greek] διάκονος (diakonos), [Latin] minister

[Greek] διάκονος (diakonos), [Latin] minister: servant, attendant, assistant, minister, helper; 30 scriptural references

The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence: painting by Titian (1558). The above quote clearly illustrates why Saint Lawrence is considered a patron saint of comics. His satchel illustrates his care for the poor.

Background information:

St. Lawrence: This servant served the Roman Church during the mid-third century. This young cleric held a position of great trust, caring for the goods of the Church. He was arrested under Emperor Valerian in 258, laid upon a gridiron and slowly roasted to death. Evidence shows that he was a disciple of Pope Sixtus II (257-258 AD). St. Lawrence is a patron saint of comics, cooks, workers, butchers, and other occupations.

Greek Hellenism: This term means one who waits on tables, servant, messenger, assistant, baker, cook, maid, and steward.

Herodotus’ The Histories 4.71: “From there the escorts transport the king’s body on the wagon to another of the tribes.”

Demosthenes’ Against Neaera 59.42: “They neither had any property to supply funds for the female servants and house servant.”

Xenophon’s Memorabilia 1.5.2: “Should we be willing to take as a gift a page or an errandboy with such a character?”

Xenophon’s Economics 8.10: “Let us instruct the maid to take them from it and put them back again.”

Old Testament: This term, used in a secular sense, mean servant, youth, alms collector, courtier (royal attendant), and eunuch. The alms collector was involved in the non-worship functions of the synagogue.

New Testament: This term means servant, attendant, server, minister, co-worker, and deacon.

Scriptures:

Who wishes to be great shall be your servant: (Mt.20:26, Mt.23:11, Mk.9:35, Mk.10:43)

1. Jesus elevates the importance of serving others.
2. This brings great glory to God. This is being great in the “eyes” of God.
3. To deny oneself means to be in service to others.
4. Jesus opposes self-centeredness and ambition.

Servant of God: (Rom.13:4)

1. Let every person be subordinate to higher authorities established by God. (Kings and magistrates rule by consent of God.)
2. Those who resist authority opposes what God has appointed. (They will bring judgment upon themselves.)
3. Those who render obedience to governing authorities also render obedience to God.
4. It is recognized that Caesar has the responsibility to render just ordinances.
5. Caesar is not entitled to obedience when such it nullifies God’s authority. (Secular authority must not God’s authority.)

Christ has become a minister of the circumcised: (Rom.15:8)

1. Christ remains faithful to the Jews because of the covenant (promises to the patriarchs).
2. God bestows mercy upon the Gentiles who had no such covenant.

It is not strange that Satan’s ministers masquerade as ministers of righteousness. (2Cor.11:15)

1. Paul speaks about false prophets and deceitful workers who masquerade as apostles of Christ.
2. Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
3. They seek to enslave, to devour, to take advantage, and to put on airs.
4. Their ends will correspond to their ends. (Their deeds will lead to their end.)

Are they ministers of Christ? (Other leaders and false leaders often claimed this title.) (2Cor.11:23)

I commend you Phoebe our sister who is a minister of the church of Cenchreae. (Rom.16:1)

How does Paul regard Phoebe? Paul held Phoebe in high esteem. Paul entrusted Phoebe to bring his epistles to the Christians in Rome.

Who is Phoebe? She is a widow, servant, helper, sister (fellow Christian), patron, minister, and “deaconess”. It is presumed that Phoebe took over her husband’s business. This allowed Phoebe the means and authority to engage in business in different regions.

Where is Cenchreae?  Part of the region of Corinth, Cenchreae was a city on the Saronic Gulf. A small Christian community existed in the midst of worldly values, paganism, and sin of Corinth.

Why were women servants necessary? In this historical patriarchal society and culture, females were often separated or set aside from men. Woman widows and servants separately educated the women. Servants were need to attend to the daily, medical, and sacramental needs (baptism) of women. In addition, Phoebe’s esteemed stature allowed her to be able to serve the broader community (men and women).

As of now, is there scriptural evidence for an official order of women deacons? No

[I am putting on my tennis shoes as I will be getting to into the “scriptural weeds” to determine the question about: “Can there be deaconesses (woman deacons)?] 👟 👟

Qualifications of deacons: (1Tim.3:8-13)

1Tim.3:8:Deacons must be dignified, not deceitful, not addicted to drink, not greedy for sordid gain. (specific qualifications)

1Tim.3:9: Deacons must hold fast to the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. (specific qualifications)

1Tim.3:10: Deacons should be tested first; if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

1Tim3:11: Women should be dignified, not slanderers, but temperate and faithful in everything.

1Tim.3:12: Deacons may be married only once and must manage their children and house well. (family and marriage qualifications)

1Tim.3:13: Thus who serve well as deacons gain good standing and much confidence in their faith in Jesus Christ. (family and marriage qualifications)

Conclusions:

1. Paul does not provide a feminine article for the Greek diakonos.
2. Paul refers to women with the Greek gynaikos (woman or wife).
3. In Paul’s time, there was not yet a Greek term for “deaconess”.
4. Paul does not include marriage qualifications for deaconesses.
5. Deacons (vs. 8-10) ==> women (vs.11) => deacons (vs. 12-13) makes more literary sense than deacons ==> deaconesses ==> deacons.
6. Paul does not include elders’ wives qualifications.
7. Paul does not define woman marriage qualifications ==> no office for a deaconess.
8. The office of women servants are for serving the earthly needs of the community. There is no evidence of holy orders for women servants.
9. Nuns (sisters) are now the closest approximation to a woman’s religious vocation.

Early Christianity:

The Apostolic Tradition (Hippolytus 215 AD):

“A widow is appointed by words alone. Hands are not imposed on her because she does no offer the oblation and she does not conduct the Liturgy.”

Homilies on Luke (Origen 233 AD):

“For neither a bishop, nor a presbyter, nor a deacon, nor a widow is able to be twice married.”

First Council of Nicaea (325 AD):

“We have made mention of the deaconesses, although, not having been in any way ordained, they are certainly to be numbers among the laity.”

The Council of Laodicea (343/381 AD):

“That the so-called presbyteresses are not to be ordained in the Church.”

The Vatican is now seeking to create “deaconesses”!

Synod of Synodality:

Cardinal Mario Grech, one of the two Cardinals leading the Synod of Synodality, states that “female diaconate and a different space for women in the Church are a natural deepening of the Lord’s will.” (Cardinal Grech claims to have a special ‘knowledge’ of the Lord’s will  and Revelation?? This cardinals seems to be more concerned about women’s rights rather than vocations. Vocations are not jobs!)

Agenda item: Synod organizers asked for discernment on the “possibility for women with adequate training to preach in parish settings and a female diaconate.”

Desired end goal: Non-ordained deaconesses (installed in a specific “non-liturgical” ceremony, given a special (“liturgical” garb to wear) ==> will be perceived as an ordination ==> some bishop will “ordain” this deaconess ==> “woman priest.” (Don’t be surprised. It could happen this way!) 

Conclusion:

Deacon, minister

In the Greek Hellenistic era, servants often assisted in a secular capacity in cultic events.

The Christian servant (deacon) role is in part borrowed from the Greek and Old Testament secular servant roles.

Christ as the minister of the circumcised illustrates his mission to the Jews.

Update: Unfortunately, Satan has made his presence and influence in the Church. Clergy (popes, cardinals, bishops, and priest) can potentially be under the influence of Satan who seeks to undermine and destroy the Church. Their efforts (“fruits’) will be seen by their heretical, schismatic, and evil actions, words, and documents).

What does the evidence say about the notion of deaconesses?

1. There was a practical need to have women servants to attend to the needs of women (education and administration of resources and sacraments.)
2. The patroness Phoebe had the financial means to serve others with the need for an ordination.
3. Patronesses and widows need not have an ordination to serve.
4. Scripture only states moral pre-requisites for deacons and women, not women deacons (deaconesses).
5. The title ‘deaconess’ or women servant illustrates the practical and functions efforts of this servant role. This title eventually disappears.
6. The women servant role becomes the precursor for the nun, sister, and consecrated women in religious orders.
7. Widows, presbyteresses, and deaconesses must follow certain moral pre-requisites.
8. Widows, presbyteresses, and deaconesses, part of the laity, are appointed by words, not be the laying on of hands. They cannot conduct the Liturgy.

Cardinal Grech claims that he knows better that the Church must have women deacons. This is hubris, arrogance, and heresy.

A German auxiliary bishop has just named 13 women “deaconesses in the “spirit”. This is just par for the course for a German Church who opposes the Vatican. But do not be surprised in that the Vatican will respond to this development in some “piece-meal” response. We are talking about Modernists in the Vatican and in Germany!

The Synod of Synodalities, in their Modernist efforts to have equal decision making authority between the clergy and laity, are moving forward on the notion women deacons.

From Pope Pius X’s encyclical Pascendi Domenici Gregis: The Doctrine of the Modernists

“According the Modernists, it follows that the ecclesiastical magisterium should take democratic forms.”