no Novo Testamento
Atos 6
1. Agora, nestes dias, quando os discpulos estavam aumentando em nmero, uma queixa dos helenistas se levantou contra os hebreus, porque as vivas deles estavam sendo esquecidas na distribuio diria. 2. E os doze convocaram todos os discpulos e disseram: "No certo que devemos desistir de pregar a palavra de Deus para servir s mesas. 3. Portanto, irmos, escolhei dentre vs sete homens de boa reputao, cheios do Esprito e de sabedoria, aos quais nomearemos para o dever.
4. Mas vamos nos dedicar orao e ao ministrio da palavra. " 5. E o que eles disseram satisfez toda a assemblia, e elegeram Estvo, homem cheio de f e do Esprito Santo, e Filipe, e Prcoro, e Nicanor, e Timo, e Parmenas, e Nicolau, proslito de Antioquia. 6. Estes puseram perante os apstolos, e eles oraram e impuseram as mos sobre eles. 7. E a palavra de Deus continuou a aumentar, e o nmero dos discpulos se multiplicaram muito em Jerusalm, e uma grande parte dos sacerdotes obedecia f.
diakonos = servo
diakonos = servo
Significado Geral: somos todos "diconos" neste sentido. Cristo era o "dicono" final e ns somos chamados a ser "diconos" um ao outro. O significado especfico: Ainda h homens que so chamados para fora como
Em 1846 Robert Boyte Crawford Howell (1801-1868) ensinou que os diconos" tem uma carga de todos os assuntos seculares no reino de Cristo ou as temporalidades da igreja, isto , sua propriedade e tesouro. Howell chamou os diconos de um "conselho de administrao.
The use of corporate terminology is troubling and potentially dangerous. Pastors are not CEOs. Deacons are not Boards.
Dr. James Leo Garrett, Jr., Emeritus Professor of Theology at Southwestern: When the deacon body was being conceived, after the analogy of business corporations such as banks, as a board of directors, there was clearly violation of or deviation from Congregational polity. But, rightly interpreted
Gerald P. Cowen, Professor of N.T. & Greek at Southeastern Seminary: Just as there is no such thing in Scripture as a board of elders, there is no such thing as a board of deacons Whatever else they do in serving God and His church, they should be careful not to
Paige Patterson, President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Furthermore, the unfortunate practice in many churches of creating a governing board of deacons is no more commendable than episcopacy or elder rule...
Paige Patterson, Who Runs the Church? (Grand Rapids, MI, Zondervan, 2004), p.280-281).
If we must retain the language of the board, we must be diligent to make sure that the corporate mindset that such language has traditionally carried does not come into the church. We would be better served to stay with the New Testament image of body.
IBM has a board. The bank has a board. The Church is a body.
It is true that terminology changes. For instance, most churches use the word committee, though many have moved away from this. But a committee is at least conceptually consistent with what we find in the New Testament: a group from within a body who is called out to serve a particular purpose (again, Acts 6). Committee can be more easily harmonized with NT principles than board.
The point is not that we must slavishly hold to this or that term. The point is that we must think very carefully about the concepts that secular terminology carries with it. It is possible to baptize a secular word. But when the New Testament gives a far superior metaphor, we should ask ourselves if it is worth the risk of holding on to an inferior and potentially disruptive word. Regardless, let us be sure that we are serving the church, not lording over it.
diakonos = servant
Danger #2: Confusing the New Testament offices of elder and deacon.
1.The Elder/Overseer/Pastor
1 Tim. 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9
2.The Deacon
1 Tim. 3:8-13
L. Roy Taylor, Professor of Practical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary: Deacon nowadays is the equivalent of Owens elderIt appears that a similar phenomenon has occurred in Baptist churches in America One cannot help but ask if
Danger #3: The abandonment of the service motif in the pastorate and deacon body.
What is the ultimate picture that the pastor and the deacons should subscribe to in thinking of their offices?
1 Timothy 3:13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.