From the Greek word diakonos, meaning "a servant." The word is probably connected with the verb dioko, which means "to hasten after, pursue" (perhaps originally said of a runner). Diakonos views a servant in relationship to his work. The following is quoted from Jim Massey's book, Scriptural Organization of the Churches of Christ:
"Another officer in New Testament congregations [after elders] was the deacon. After stating the qualifications of elders, the Bible also gives the requirements for deacons (1 Timothy 3:8-13). Verse 10 says, ‘Let them use the office of a deacon,' (KJV). Deacons, then, were officers in the Lord's church. In Philippians 1:1, the apostle Paul addresses his letter to the saints (or members) at Philippi ‘with the bishops [elders] and deacons.' This shows that deacons served as officers with the elders (or bishops) in the leadership of the congregation. From these verses we learn that the office of deacon is another office in a congregation and that it is a different office from that of elder. In Acts 6:1-6, we learn of the selection of men in the Jerusalem church to take care of feeding and assisting needy members. Their work was to be the ‘daily ministration' to the widows and other needy members (Acts 6:1). The apostles needed someone to ‘serve tables' (Acts 6:2) in their place. These words ‘ministration' and ‘serve' are the same Greek word that the word ‘deacon' comes from [diakonos]. This tells us that the seven men who were chosen were deacons in the first congregation. The office of deacon, therefore, is an important and necessary position in a congregation of the Lord's church.
"Deacons are never called ‘overseers' of the church. The elders are the overseers (1 Peter 5:1-2). They are never told to ‘rule,' although elders are to ‘rule well' (1 Timothy 5:17). The work of deacons is a different work from elders. Since the word ‘deacon' means ‘to serve,' we find that deacons are ‘servants' of the church. Their part is not oversight but assistance. As the first deacons were selected to assist the apostles, present-day deacons will assist the elders, who are the spiritual overseers today. Their function is to cause the congregation's work and worship to run smoothly and efficiently. Wherever possible they will relieve the elders to do more important work which only elders can do. Two of the Jerusalem deacons also did preaching as evangelists (Stephen and Philip). But this will not always be true of every deacon. A deacon's work is to assist the elders of a congregation so as to keep them from becoming over-burdened with matters which other men can handle. As was true with elders, there were always ‘deacons' instead of ‘a deacon' in each church. No deacon had more importance than other deacons. They were all humble servants of the congregation and assistants to the elders."
Deny: to speak against, or disown, as in Jesus saying that those who deny Him in the presence of men, will be UTTERLY denied in the presence of the angels of God, (Luke 12:19). "Deny" also means to contradict what is true; to disown; to reject utterly by affirming that one has no connection with a person, as in Peter's denial of Christ.
To "deny himself" or to "deny oneself" means to disregard one's own interests. This must be done to put Christ first in our line of spiritual vision so that we "follow" Him--obey and live His teachings. Jesus gives us this command to "deny himself and take up his cross" in Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34 and Luke 9:23. For fear and his own safety's sake, Peter did not "deny himself," and instead denied the Lord three times, (Matthew 26, Mark 14, Luke 22 and John 18). The one who denies that Jesus is the Christ is a liar, and no one who denies the Son has the Father, (1 John 2:22-23). Paul calls the denial of self--the disregard for one's own interests, concerns, worries, regrets, etc.--a "pressing on toward the goal." In Philippians 3:14, he says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Titus 1:15-16 says that we can deny Christ by our actions: "To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." To "deny self" is to disregard, or forget, the old life of self-indulgence in sin, and to follow Christ in the new life of faith, obedience, learning, service, devotion, worship, love, etc.--all actions--given first and foremost to God and Christ.
(See also Take Up His Cross.)
From the Greek word apoleia. It is NOT the loss, or death, of the soul. The soul lives forever. It is the loss of the WELL-BEING of the soul eternally. It is to destroy utterly, to perish, to ruin, to suffer the loss of, not the BEING, but of the WELL-BEING of the being. Those who enter the wide gate and the broad way (Matthew 7:13) will be in "destruction"--a constant and eternal process of the perishing of the well-being of the soul or being. This is a process which will never be finished, but will be complete in its perfection of punishment justly given by God to those who refused His Son, His Word, His love, His salvation, His offer of reconciliation, etc. Those who do not know God and do not obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus will be punished with this everlasting destruction, (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10). Eternal damnation, or hell, is the place where one suffers eternal destruction. A person reaps what he sows, and those who sow to the sinful nature [the flesh] will from that nature reap this destruction, (Galatians 6:7-10). For those who live as the enemies of the cross of Christ, this destruction is their destiny, (Philippians 3:17-21).
(See also Devil / Satan, Reconcile / Reconciliation, Sin / Sinful / Sinner.)
From the Greek word diabolos. It means "an accuser, a slanderer." It is one of the names of Satan. "Devil" and "demon" are not the same. There is only one Devil, but there are many demons. The Devil is the enemy of both God and man. He accuses man to God, (Job 1:6-11, Job 2:1-5 and Revelation 12:9-10). He accuses God to man, (Genesis 3). He himself is sinful, (1 John 3:8). He instigated man to sin, (Genesis 3). He tempts man to do evil, (Ephesians 4:27 and Ephesians 6:11). He encourages man to sin by deception, (Ephesians 2:2). He was a murderer from the beginning, cannot hold to the Truth, is a liar and the father of lies, (John 8:44). Death having been brought into the world by sin, the Devil had the power of death. But Christ, through His Own death, has triumphed over the Devil, and Christ will bring him to destruction, (Hebrews 2:14). If believers resist the Devil, he will flee from them, (James 4:7). The Devil's doom is the lake of fire, (Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 20:10).
(See also Tempt / Temptation.)
From the Greek word mathetes. It means "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn", from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher." This denotes one who follows one's teacher's teaching, as the disciples of John followed John's teaching, (Matthew 9:14); the disciples of the Pharisees followed the Pharisees' teaching, (Matthew 22:16); the disciples of Moses followed Moses' teaching, (John 9:28), etc. It is used of the disciples of Jesus in a wide sense--of the Jews who maintained support, or gave loyalty, to Him, (John 6:66, Luke 6:17), some doing so secretly, (John 19:38). It is used especially of the twelve Apostles, (Matthew 10:1, Luke 22:11).
It is used of all people who manifest (show by actions; demonstrate) that they are disciples of Jesus by abiding in His Word. A disciple is not only a pupil, but also an adherent. An adherent is one who gives support to, maintains loyalty to, sticks fast to or clings to the teacher, and what the teacher teaches. The adherent (disciple) does not just listen to the teacher, but he puts into action in his life the teachings and example of the teacher. A disciple--an adherent--is an imitator of the teacher. Jesus states that those who are His disciples must SHOW (demonstrate) that they are His disciples by abiding in (living in--DOING) His Word. In John 8:31-32, it says, "To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.'" In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another." And in John 15:8, Jesus says, "This is to My Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples."
In John 6:60-69, many of the disciples of Jesus turned back and no longer followed Him when they could not accept His "hard teaching." Jesus turned to the Twelve (Apostles) and asked if they wanted to leave, too. In John 6:68-69, "Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life. We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.'"
The true disciple of Christ is the one who abides in and lives the Words of Christ. The true disciple of Christ is an IMITATOR of Christ. Ephesians 5:1-2 says, "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
(See also Christian, Church / Assembly.)
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