Introduction

The word ‘deacon’ in Greek is the word ‘diakonos’ and it simply means a servant and it can be translated as servant, minister, deacon, or waiter. The word deacon is used in a special way and a general way. Most translators try to use the word, ‘minister’ when diakonos is being applied to a preacher.

Minister, 1 Corinthians 3:5 / 2 Corinthians 3:6 / 1 Timothy 4:6. In the New Testament, when it’s applied to an office in the church, it’s translated as deacon. In a special sense, men who meet the qualifications are appointed for special work in the local church.

Deacon, 1 Timothy 3:8-13. The church in Philippi had elders and deacons, Philippians 1:1.

One who serves

Again, in the New Testament, when it’s clear that we’re talking just about servants in general, then the word servant is used. It means a servant so may apply to anyone who serves, John 2:9 / John 12:26.

Jesus The Servant

‘For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed.’ Romans 15:8

There is one case where the word servant is applied to a woman.

‘I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae’. Romans 16:1

There are some translations that use the word ‘deaconess’ to translate it because Phoebe was connected to the church. This has led some churches to use this text, as their proof text, to appoint deaconesses. The word ‘deaconess’ can be very misleading in English, even while being technically correct.

The word, ‘servant’ makes a better translation in English even if the language doesn’t distinguish between male and female servants.

We always have to remember that one possible translation of any Bible verse, can’t and should never overrule or contradict other passages of the Bible. Remember, since qualifications for the office of deacon rule out women, we can’t just ignore such passages.

‘Let deacons be the husbands of one wife’. 1 Timothy 3:12

Should congregations appoint deaconesses?

‘In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.’ 1 Timothy 3:11

Paul here gives some qualifications for the wives of deacons, but there are no special qualifications for a deaconess. All faithful women are servants, thus deaconesses in the general sense, just as all men are deacons in this sense.

The point is simply this, there are special qualifications for the office of deacons, but not for the office of deaconesses.