– It comes from Latin (through minister, the one who serves, helps) and means servant’s office, servile function:
Gen 9:25 : “Cursed be Canaan”, he said, “may he be the least of his brothers’ slaves!”
Ex 14:31 : Therefore, the people feared the Lord and trusted in him and in his servant Moses.
Leviticus 25:55 : For the children of Israel are my servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt.
Num 11:11 : And he said to the Lord: “Why do you afflict your servant?”.
Numbers 14:24 : As for my servant Caleb, however, who moved by another spirit faithfully obeyed me.
Deut 5:15 : Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, from where your Lord’s strong hand and mighty arm brought you out.
Deut 6:21: We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the mighty hand of the Lord freed us.
Deut 12:18 : But you shall eat these before the Lord your God, in the place which the Lord your God has chosen.
– It is a word used to designate religious service in the AT:
Num 8:19 : I gave them entirely to Aaron and his sons to do the service of the Israelites in the tent.
Num 18,3 : They will do the service that is due to you and the service of the tent, but they will not approach the sacred objects.
2Ch 35,2 : He established the priests in their duties and encouraged them to serve in the temple.
Is 61,6 : You will be called priests of the Lord, ministers of our God you will be qualified.
Ez 44,11 : They will serve in my sanctuary as gatekeepers and will do the housework.
– And in the NT, the service of the Church:
Acts 1:17 , 25 : He was one of us and took part in our ministry.
Acts 20:24 : I am not afraid of any of this […] as long as my career and the ministry of the word that I received are finished.
Acts 21:19 : He told them one by one all the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.
2Cor 3,7.9 : The ministry of death […] was so glorious that the children of Israel could not look at it.
2Cor 4,1 : Therefore, we do not give up on this ministry that was given to us by mercy.
2Cor 5,18 : All this comes from God, who reconciled us to himself, […], and entrusted us with the ministry of this reconciliation.
2Cor 6,3-4 : We give no reason to offend anyone, so that our ministry may not be criticized.
2Cor 11:23 : Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as less wise: I, even more so.
Eph 3:7 : I became a servant of this Gospel by virtue of the grace given to me by the omnipotent divine action.
Col 1,23.25 : For this, you must remain founded and firm in the faith, unshakable in the hope of the Gospel.
Col 4:17 : Take good note of the ministry you have received in the name of the Lord, and carry it out to the full.
1Tm 1,12 : I thank him who gave me strength, […], because he judged me worthy of trust and called me to the ministry.
– Assistance to widows was also established by the apostles and received the name of diakonia (service, help to the poor,
fulfillment of duties towards the community):
Acts 6,1-6 : There were complaints from the Greeks […] because their widows would have been neglected in the daily distribution.
1Cor 16,15-16 : You know that the family of Stephanas are the firstfruits of Achaia and consecrated themselves in the service of the saints.
2Cor 8,1-5 : We want to make known to you, brothers, the grace that God has given to the churches of Macedonia.
2Cor 9,1.12 : Regarding the help to be given to the brothers, I find it almost superfluous to continue writing to you.
1Tm 3,8 : Deacons must be honest, not double-minded or prone to excessive drinking and the spirit of gain.
– The service of the altar and the presidency of the liturgical celebrations were done by the presbyters (from the Greek présbus , old, elderly, experienced, worthy of respect):
Acts 14:23 : He appointed elders in every church, and after prayers with fasting, they commended them to the Lord.
Acts 15:2.4.6.22 : They were received by the community, by the apostles […] to whom they told everything that God had done.
Acts 16:4 : They taught them to observe the decisions that had been taken by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem.
Acts 20:17-28 : But from Miletus he sent to Ephesus to summon the elders of the Church.
1Tm 5,17-18 : Elders who carry out the task of presiding well are to be honored with double remuneration.
Tit 1,5 : I left you in Crete to finish organizing everything and appoint elders in each city.
Jas 5.14 : Is anyone sick? Call the priests of the Church, and they say prayer over him, anointing him.
1Pt 5,1-4 : This is my exhortation to the elders who are among you; because I am an old man like them.
– The gathered elders chose the bishop (from the Latin episcopus , inspector, guard, protector) who served them by coordinating their work:
1Tm 3,1-7 : Here is a certain thing: whoever aspires to the episcopate, know that he is desiring a sublime function.
2Tm 1,6 : For this reason, I exhort you to rekindle the flame of the gift of God that you received through the laying on of my hands.
Tit 1,5-6 : I left you in Crete so that you could finish organizing everything and appoint elders in each city.
– The apostles laid hands on new believers to receive the Holy Spirit and also before being sent on any mission:
Acts 8: 1: On that day, a great persecution broke out against the community of Jerusalem.
Acts 13:3: Then, fasting and praying, they laid their hands on them and sent them away.
1Tm 4,14 : Do not neglect the charism that is in you and that was given to you by prophecy.
1Tm 5,22 : Lay your hands on no one inconsiderately, lest you become an accomplice in the sins of others.
2Tm 1,6 : For this reason, I exhort you to rekindle the flame of the gift of God that you received through the laying on of my hands.
Tit 1,5 : I left you in Crete to finish organizing everything and appoint elders in each city.
– The ministry was destined to the service of the community, according to the doctrine of Jesus Christ:
Acts 20:28 , 30 : Take care of yourselves and of all the flock over which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.
1Cor 16,10.15-16 : If Timothy comes to visit you, see that he is not worried […], because he works exactly like I do.
Eph 4:11 : To some he appointed apostles; to others, prophets; to others, evangelists, pastors, doctors.
Phil 1 :1 : To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, together with the bishops and deacons.
1Th 5:12 : We beg you, brothers, to recognize those who work hard among you.
2Tm 2,1-2 : You, therefore, my son, seek to progress in the grace of Jesus Christ.
Tit 1,7-8 : For it is necessary that the bishop be blameless, as an administrator who is appointed by God.
1Pt 5,22 : Watch over the flock of God, which is entrusted to you […] not for the sake of sordid interest, but with dedication.
2Pt 1,20-21 : First of all, know that no prophecy of Scripture is for personal interpretation.
2Pt 2,1-2 : As there were false prophets among the people, so there will also be false teachers among you.
2Pt 3,3-4 : In the last times there will come scoffers full of ridicule, who will live according to their own concupiscences.
Jd 1,18 : At the end of time, impostors will come, who will live according to their impious passions.
– See APOSTLE.
