SPECIAL TOPIC: DEACONESS

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEACONESS (from 1 Timothy 3)

This is the FEMININE form of the term diakonos (ACCUSATIVE SINGULAR FEMININE). It is the general Greek term for minister/servant. It is used

of Christ in Mark 10:45; Rom. 15:8
of Paul in Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23,25
of deacons in Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:11

There is evidence in both the NT and early post-biblical church writings for the office of deaconess. Another example of women in local church ministry in the NT is "the widows' roll" of the Pastorals (cf. 1 Tim. 3:11; 5:3-16). The RSV, Amplified, and Phillips translations have "deaconess" in Rom. 16:1. The NASB and NIV have it in the footnotes. The NEB has "who holds office." All believers are called, gifted, full-time ministers (cf. Eph. 4:12). Some are called to leadership ministry roles. Our traditions must give way to Scripture! These early deacons and deaconesses were servants, not executive boards.

Dale Moody, The Word of Truth, p. 219, says

"Even the most orthodox made much room for the ministry of women before Constantine. A third-century writing called 'Didascalia' describes in detail the duties of deaconesses and deacons (ch. XVI)."

For an extended discussion of women in ministry, see pp. 458-460.

M. R. Vincent, Word Studies, vol. 2, pp. 752 and 1196, says that the Apostolical Constitutions, dating from the late second or early third century, makes a distinction between the duties and ordination of female church helpers.

deaconesses
widows (cf. 1 Tim. 3:11; 5:9-10)
virgins (cf. Acts 21:9 and possibly 1 Cor. 7:34)

These duties involved

caring for the sick
caring for those physically persecuted
visiting those in prison who were persecuted for the faith
teaching new believers
assisting in baptism of women
some overseeing of female church members