THE DIACONATE IN THE BIBLE

Before the Diaconate as it is commonly understood today, became settled in traditional Christianity, the Greek term Διάκονος, simply meant “Helper, Waiter, or Servant”. It has been assumed that this ministry appeared officially as an occupation the moment the Apostles consecrated the seven table waiters in Acts 6:1-6; however, the term διάκονος does not appear here, at all. But it is most probable, due to the nature of the function and the fact that it was the first time they selected people for that labour, even though the name it is not explicitly used there. The word was used for the first time in the NT, in Paul’s epistle to Romans, speaking about Phoebe (Romans 16:1), but mentioned only as part of a longer conversation, which indicates that by the year 58 CE, the term and the function was well known. Soon after, the term is used in the epistle to the Philippians 1:1, together with the Elders, as an established class of local leaders, which also indicates that even prio