Minister

Minister [EBD]

one who serves, as distinguished from the master. (1.) Heb. meshereth, applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Ex. 33:11), and to the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43). This name is also given to attendants at court (2 Chr. 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jer. 33:21; Ezek. 44:11).

(2.) Heb. pelah (Ezra 7:24), a "minister" of religion. Here used of that class of sanctuary servants called "Solomon's servants" in Ezra 2:55-58 and Neh. 7:57-60.

(3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Rom. 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Heb. 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Rom. 15:16).

(4.) Greek hyperetes (literally, "under-rower"), a personal attendant on a superior, thus of the person who waited on the officiating priest in the synagogue (Luke 4:20). It is applied also to John Mark, the attendant on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:5).

(5.) Greek diaconos, usually a subordinate officer or assistant employed in relation to the ministry of the gospel, as to Paul and Apollos (1 Cor. 3:5), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2), and also to Christ (Rom. 15:8).

Minister [NAVE]

MINISTER
An officer in civil government. Joseph, Gen. 41:40-44; Ira, 2 Sam. 20:26; Zabud, 1 Kin. 4:5; Ahithophel, 1 Chr. 27:33; Zebadiah, 2 Chr. 19:11; Elkanah, 2 Chr. 28:7; Haman, Esth. 3:1; Mordecai, Esth. 10:3; 8-9; Daniel, Dan. 2:48; 6:1-3.
See: Cabinet.

Minister [NAVE]

MINISTER, a sacred teacher.
Index of Sub-topics
Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instances of; False and Corrupt; Hospitality to; Ordination of; Prayer for, Enjoined; Promises to, and Joys of; Success Attending; Trials and Persecutions of; Zealous.
Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics
Called: Ambassadors for Christ, 2 Cor. 5:20; Angels of the Church, Rev. 1:20; 2:1; Apostles, Luke 6:13; Rev. 18:20; Apostles of Jesus Christ, Tit. 1:1;
Defenders of the Faith, Phil. 1:7;
Elders, 1 Tim. 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:1; Evangelists, Eph. 4:11; 2 Tim. 4:5;
Fishers of Men, Matt. 4:19; Mark 1:17;
Laborers, Matt. 9:38, with Philem. 1; Laborers in the Gospel of Christ, 1 Thess. 3:2; Lights, John 5:35;
Men of God, Deut. 33:1; 1 Tim. 6:11; Messengers of the Church, 2 Cor. 8:23.
Messengers of the Lord of Armies, Mal. 2:7; Ministers of God, Isa. 61:6; 2 Cor. 6:4; of the Lord, Joel 2:17; Christ, Rom. 15:16; 1 Cor. 4:1; of the Sanctuary, Ezek. 45:4; of the Gospel, Eph. 3:7; Col. 1:23; of the Word, Luke 1:2; of the New Testament, 2 Cor. 3:6; of the Church, Col. 1:24, 25; of Righteousness, 2 Cor. 11:15;
Overseers, Acts 20:28;
Pastors, Jer. 3:15; John 21:16-18; Eph. 4:11.
Preachers, Rom. 10:14; 1 Tim. 2:7; Preachers of Righteousness, 2 Pet. 2:5;
Servants of God, Tit. 1:1; Jas. 1:1; of the Lord, 2 Tim. 2:24; of Jesus Christ, Phil. 1:1; Jude 1; of the Church, 2 Cor. 4:5; Shepherds, Jer. 23:4; Soldiers of Christ, Phil. 2:25; 2 Tim. 2:3, 4; Stars, Rev. 1:20; 2:1; Stewards of God, Tit. 1:7; of the Grace of God, 1 Pet. 4:10; of the Mysteries of God, 1 Cor. 4:1.
Teachers, Isa. 30:20; Eph. 4:11;
Watchmen, Isa. 62:6; Ezek. 33:7; Witnesses, Acts 1:8; 5:32; 26:16; Workers Together with God, 2 Cor. 6:1.
Likened to sowers, Psa. 126:6; Matt. 13:3-8; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-8.
Teachers of schools, 1 Sam. 19:20; 2 Kin. 2:3, 5, 15; 4:38; 2 Chr. 15:3; 17:7-9; Acts 13:1.
Hired, Judg. 18:4.
Exempt from taxation, Ezra 7:24.
Non-partisan in politics, 2 Sam. 15:24-27.
Influential in public affairs: Designate kings, 1 Sam. 9:15, 16; 10:1; 16:1-13; recommend civil and military appointments, 2 Kin. 4:13.
Rebuke rulers: Samuel with Saul, 1 Sam. 13:11-14; 15:10-31; Nathan with David, 2 Sam. 12:1-14; Elijah with Ahab, 1 Kin. 18:17, 18.
Tact of, 1 Cor. 9:20-23; 10:23, 28-33; 2 Cor. 12:16.
Recreations for, Mark 6:31, 32, 45.
Take leave of congregations, Acts 20:17-38.
Personal bearing of, Tit. 2:7, 8.
Preach without ecclesiastical authority, Gal. 1:15-24; 2:1-9.
Patience of, Jas. 5:10.
Work of, will be tried, 1 Cor. 3:12-15.
Responsibility of, Ezek. 3:17-21; 33:8; Matt. 10:14-40; Acts 18:6; 20:26, 27.
Speaking evil of, forbidden, Jude 8-10.
Marriage of, Lev. 21:7-15; Matt. 8:14; 1 Cor. 9:5; 1 Tim. 3:2, 12; Tit. 1:5-7.
Incorruptible: Balaam, Num. 22:18, 37, 38; 23:8, 12; 24:12-14, with 2 Pet. 2:15, 16; Micaiah, 1 Kin. 22:13, 14; Peter, Acts 8:18-23.
Love of, for the church, exemplified by Paul, Phil. 1:7; 1 Thess. 1:2-4; 2:8, 11.
Kindness to: Ebed-melech to Jeremiah, Jer. 38:7-13.
Fear of, 1 Sam. 16:4.
Examples to the flock, Phil. 3:17; 2 Thess. 3:9; 1 Tim. 4:12; 1 Pet. 5:3.
Intolerance of, Matt. 15:23; 19:13; Mark 10:13; Luke 18:15.
Message of, rejected, Ezek. 33:30-33.
Inconsistent, Matt. 27:3-7.
God's care of, 1 Kin. 17:1-16; 19:1-18; Isa. 30:20; Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 12:6, 7.
Their calling glorious, 2 Cor. 3:7-11.
Discouragements of, Isa. 53:1; Ezek. 3:8, 9, 14; Hab. 1:2, 3; Matt. 13:57; Mark 6:3, 4; Luke 4:24; John 4:44.
Defended, Jer. 26:16-19.
Beloved, Acts 20:37, 38; 21:5, 6.
Sent forth two and two: Disciples, Mark 6:7.
Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13:2, 3.
Judas and Silas, Acts 15:27.
Barnabas and Mark, Acts 15:37, 39.
Paul and Silas, Acts 15:40.
Paul and Timothy, Acts 16:1-4.
Paul and Titus, 2 Cor. 8:19, 23.
Timothy and Erastus, Acts 19:22.
Titus and a companion, 2 Cor. 12:18.
See: Trials and Persecutions of, below.
Call of
Ex. 28:1; Num. 3:5-13; 1 Sam. 3:4-10; 1 Kin. 19:16, 19; 1 Chr. 23:13; Isa. 6:8-10; Jer. 1:5; Amos 2:11; Jonah 1:1, 2 Jonah 3:1, 2. Matt. 4:18-22 Mark 1:17-20. Matt. 9:9 Mark 2:14. Luke 10:1, 2; John 1:43; Acts 13:2, 3; Acts 20:24; Acts 22:12-15; Acts 26:14-18; Rom. 1:1; Rom. 10:14, 15; 1 Cor. 1:1 [2 Cor. 1:1; Col. 1:1.] 1 Cor. 1:27, 28; 1 Cor. 9:16-19; 2 Cor. 5:18-20; Gal. 1:15, 16; Eph. 3:7, 8; Eph. 4:11, 12; Col. 1:25-29; Col. 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:12-14; 1 Tim. 2:7 2 Tim. 1:11. Tit. 1:3; Heb. 5:4 See: Priest; Levites; Call, Personal; Excuses.
Character and Qualifications of
Lev. 10:3-11; Lev. 21:6 2 Chr. 29:11. Num. 16:9, 10; Deut. 32:1-3; 1 Sam. 2:35; 1 Sam. 12:7; 2 Chr. 6:41; Ezra 7:10; Psa. 68:11; Prov. 11:30; Isa. 6:5-8; Isa. 32:20; Isa. 52:11; Jer. 1:7, 8; Jer. 3:15; Jer. 20:9; Ezek. 34:2 vs. 1-31.; Mal. 2:6, 7; Matt. 10:16-20, 22-24; Matt. 11:25 [Luke 10:21.] Matt. 11:26; Matt. 13:51, 52; Matt. 20:25-28 Luke 22:27; John 13:14, 15. Matt. 23:8-11; Luke 6:39; Luke 12:42-44 Matt. 24:45. Luke 24:49; John 3:27, 34; John 4:36-38; John 10:2-5, 11-15; John 13:13-17; John 15:20, 21; John 17:16-18, 20; Acts 1:8; Acts 4:8, 31; Acts 6:3, 4; Acts 20:22-24; Rom. 2:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:23, 27-30; 1 Cor. 2:2; 1 Cor. 3:7-10; 1 Cor. 4:10-13; 1 Cor. 9:16-23, 27; 1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 2:15-17; 2 Cor. 3:6-10; 2 Cor. 4:1-10; 2 Cor. 5:11, 18-20; 2 Cor. 6:3-7; 2 Cor. 10:1, 2, 8; 2 Cor. 13:10; Gal. 2:8; Gal. 6:17; Phil. 3:17; 1 Thess. 2:3-12; 1 Tim. 3:1-13, 15; 1 Tim. 5:17, 21; 1 Tim. 6:11, 13, 14, 20, 21; 2 Tim. 1:6-8, 13, 14; 2 Tim. 2:1-7, 14-16, 20-26; 2 Tim. 3:14, 16, 17; Tit. 1:5-9, 13, 14; Tit. 2:1, 7, 8, 15; Tit. 3:1, 2, 8, 9 [See Epistles to Timothy and Titus in full.]Heb. 5:1-3, 12-14; Heb. 13:6, 7, 9, 17; Jas. 3:1, 13, 16-18; 1 Pet. 4:10, 11
Charge Delivered to
Num. 18:1-7; Num. 27:18-23; Deut. 31:7, 8 Deut. 31:14-23. Josh. 1:1-9; Ezek. 3:4; Matt. 10:5-15 [Mark 6:11.] Matt. 10:16-42; Luke 10:1-16; 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 1 Tim. 2:1-15; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; 1 Tim. 4:1-16; 1 Tim. 5:1-22; 1 Tim. 6:1-21; 2 Tim. 1:6-13; 2 Tim. 2:1-26; 2 Tim. 3:1-17; 2 Tim. 4:1-8
Courage of
See: Courage; Reproof, Faithfulness in.
Duties of
Ex. 4:12; Lev. 10:11 vs. 8-11.; Josh. 1:8; 2 Kin. 17:27, 28; 2 Chr. 29:11; Isa. 40:1-3, 9 [Nah. 1:15.] Isa. 40:11; Isa. 52:11; Isa. 57:14; Isa. 58:1; Isa. 62:6, 7; Jer. 1:7, 8, 17-19 Jer. 15:20, 21. Jer. 4:15; Jer. 6:27; Jer. 15:19; Jer. 23:4, 22, 28; Jer. 26:2; Ezek. 2:6-8; Ezek. 3:8-10, 17-21, 27; Ezek. 6:11; Ezek. 33:1-9; Ezek. 34:2-31; Ezek. 44:23; Joel 1:13-15; Joel 2:17; Jonah 1:2; Hab. 2:2; Mal. 2:7; Matt. 7:6; Matt. 10:7, 8, 11-13, 16, 25, 27, 28; Matt. 18:5 [Luke 9:48.] Matt. 18:6, 18 Matt. 16:19. Matt. 20:25-28 Mark 10:43-45. Matt. 28:19, 20; Luke 22:32; Luke 24:48; John 3:34; John 4:35-38; John 15:27; John 20:23; John 21:15-17; Acts 1:21, 22; Acts 5:20; Acts 6:2, 4; Acts 10:42; Acts 16:4; Acts 18:9, 10; Acts 20:28; Acts 22:15; Acts 26:16-18; Rom. 1:14, 15; Rom. 12:6-8 vs. 3-5.; 1 Cor. 1:16; 1 Cor. 4:1, 2, 21; 1 Cor. 9:16, 17; 2 Cor. 1:24; 2 Cor. 4:1, 2, 5; 2 Cor. 5:14, 18, 20; 2 Cor. 6:3-10; 2 Cor. 7:4-9, 12, 15; 2 Cor. 8:23; 2 Cor. 10:8; 2 Cor. 12:15, 19; 2 Cor. 13:2, 10; Gal. 1:10; Eph. 3:8-10; Eph. 4:11, 12; Eph. 6:20; Col. 4:17; 1 Thess. 2:4-8, 10-12; 1 Thess. 3:2; 1 Thess. 5:12; 2 Thess. 3:4; 1 Tim. 1:3, 4, 11, 18, 19; 1 Tim. 2:7; 1 Tim. 4:6, 7, 12-16; 1 Tim. 5:1-3, 7-11, 19-22; 1 Tim. 6:3, 4, 10-14, 17-21; 2 Tim. 1:6-8; 2 Tim. 2:2-7, 14-16, 23-25; 2 Tim. 4:1, 2, 5; 1 Pet. 5:1-4; 2 Pet. 1:12-16 See: Charge Delivered to, above.
Duties of the Church to
Deut. 1:38; Deut. 3:28; Deut. 12:19; Deut. 31:7; 1 Cor. 11:1, 2; 1 Cor. 16:15, 16; Phil. 3:17; Col. 4:10; 1 Thess. 5:12, 13; Heb. 13:7, 17, 18 See: Church, Duty of, to Ministers.
Emoluments of
Num. 18:20; Deut. 10:9; Deut. 14:27; Deut. 18:1, 2; Josh. 13:14, 33; Josh. 18:7; Jer. 31:14; Ezek. 44:28; Matt. 10:9, 10 Mark 6:8. Luke 10:7, 8; Luke 22:35, 36; John 4:36; Acts 20:33, 34; 1 Cor. 9:3, 4, 7-23 vs. 1-6.; 2 Cor. 11:7-10; 2 Cor. 12:13-18; Gal. 6:6; Phil. 4:10-18; 1 Thess. 2:5, 6, 9; 2 Thess. 3:7-9; 1 Tim. 5:18; 3 John 7 See: Priest, Emoluments of; Levites.
Faithful
Instances of:
Moses, Deut. 4:26; 30:19; Heb. 3:2, 5.
Micaiah, 2 Chr. 18:12, 13.
Azariah, 2 Chr. 26:16-20.
Balaam, Num. 22:18, 38; 23:8, 12; 24:12-14.
Nathan, 2 Sam. 12:1-14.
Isaiah, Isa. 22:4, 5; 39:3-7.
Jeremiah, Jer. 17:16; 26:1-15; 28; 37:9, 10, 16-18.
John the Baptist, Matt. 3:2-12; Mark 6:18-28; Luke 3:7-9, 19.
Peter, Acts 8:18-23.
Paul, Acts 20:26, 27; Col. 1:7.
The apostles, Acts 3:12-26; 4:9-13, 19, 20, 31; 5:21, 29-32.
False and Corrupt
Deut. 13:1-5; Deut. 18:20-22 Deut. 13:3, 5. 1 Kin. 12:31; 2 Chr. 29:34; 2 Chr. 30:15; Neh. 13:29; Prov. 19:27; Isa. 3:12; Isa. 5:20; Isa. 8:19, 20; Isa. 9:14-16; Isa. 28:7; Isa. 29:10, 11; Isa. 30:10; Isa. 43:27, 28; Isa. 44:20; Isa. 56:10-12; Jer. 2:8; Jer. 5:30, 31 vs. 13,14.; Jer. 6:13, 14 Jer. 8:10, 11. Jer. 10:21; Jer. 12:10; Jer. 13:20; Jer. 14:13-16; Jer. 23:1, 2, 11, 14-16, 21, 31, 32, 36 vs. 25-39;; Jer. 27:9-18. Jer. 48:10; Jer. 50:6; Lam. 2:14; Lam. 4:13, 14; Ezek. 13:2-5, 10, 11, 16-19, 22 vs. 1-23.; Ezek. 14:9, 10; Ezek. 22:25, 26, 28; Ezek. 34:2-4, 6, 10 vs. 1-31.; Ezek. 44:8, 10; Hos. 4:6, 8, 9 vs. 10-13.; Hos. 5:1; Hos. 6:9; Hos. 9:8 v. 7.; Amos 2:11, 12; Mic. 2:11; Mic. 3:5-7, 11; Zeph. 3:4; Zech. 10:3; Zech. 11:4, 5, 16, 17; Zech. 13:2-5; Mal. 1:6 vs. 7-10.; Mal. 2:8, 9 vs. 1-3.; Matt. 5:19; Matt. 7:15, 22, 23; Matt. 15:9, 13, 14 Luke 6:39. Matt. 20:20-27 Mark 10:35-37; Luke 22:24. Matt. 23:3, 4, 13; Matt. 24:4, 5, 24 vs. 11,26,48-51;; Luke 21:8. Mark 9:33-35 Luke 9:46. Mark 13:21, 22; Luke 11:35, 52 vs. 46-51.; Luke 12:45, 46; John 3:10; John 5:43; John 10:1, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13; Acts 20:29, 30; Rom. 2:19-25; Rom. 16:17, 18; 1 Cor. 3:10-16, 21 vs. 1-4.; 1 Cor. 11:18, 19; 2 Cor. 2:17; 2 Cor. 11:3, 4, 13-15 vs. 1-33.; Gal. 1:6-8; Gal. 5:10; Eph. 4:14; Phil. 1:15, 16; Phil. 3:2; Col. 2:4, 8, 18, 19; 1 Tim. 1:3-7, 19; 1 Tim. 4:1-3, 7; 1 Tim. 6:3-5, 20, 21; 2 Tim. 2:14-18; 2 Tim. 3:6-9, 13 2 Tim. 4:3. Tit. 1:10-14; Tit. 3:10, 11; Heb. 13:9; 2 Pet. 2:1-3, 13-19 vs. 1-22.; 2 Pet. 3:16; 1 John 2:18, 26; 1 John 4:1-3, 5; 2 John 7, 10, 11; 3 John 10; Jude 4, 11; Rev. 2:1, 2, 12, 14, 15, 18, 20-23
Instances of:
Aaron, Num. 12:1-12.
Nadab and Abihu, Lev. 10:1, 2.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, Num. 16.
Eli's sons, 1 Sam. 2:12-17, 22, 25, 28, 29.
Samuel's sons, 1 Sam. 8:1-3; 1 Chr. 6:28.
The old prophet of Beth-el, 1 Kin. 13:11-32.
Jonathan, Judg. 17:7-13; 18.
Noadiah, Neh. 6:14.
Priests under Jehoash, 2 Kin. 12:7; 2 Chr. 24:5, 6; Hezekiah, 2 Chr. 30:3, 5.
Priests and Levites, Ezra 2:61, 62; 9:1, 2; 10:18-24; Neh. 13:4-13, 28, 29; Zech. 7:5, 6.
Hananiah, Jer. 28.
Jonah, Jonah 1:1-6.
Rulers in the temple, Matt. 16:6-12; 23:16; Luke 12:1.
Caiaphas, Matt. 26:2, 3, 57, 63-65; John 11:49-51; 18:14.
Judas, Matt. 26:14-16, 21-25, 47-50; 27:3-5; John 12:4-6; Acts 1:18.
Simon the sorcerer, Acts 8:9-11.
Judaizing Christians, Acts 15:1; Gal. 3-6.
Diotrephes, 3 John 9.
Elymas, Acts 13:6-11.
Hymenaeus, 1 Tim. 1:20; 2 Tim. 2:17.
Philetus, 2 Tim. 2:17, 18.
Hospitality to
Woman of Zarephath to Elijah, 1 Kin. 17:10-16.
The Shunammite to Elisha, 2 Kin. 4:8-10.
The barbarians to Paul, Acts 28:1-10.
Simon the taer to Peter, Acts 9:43.
The Philippian jailer, Acts 16:33, 34.
Aquila and Priscilla to Paul, Acts 18:3; to Apollos, Acts 18:26.
Justus to Paul, Acts 18:7.
Philip the evangelist to Paul, Acts 21:8-10.
Ordination of
Of Matthias, Acts 1:26; of seven deacons, Acts 6:5, 6; of Paul and Barnabas, Acts 13:3; Timothy, 1 Tim. 4:14.
See: Priests; Levites.
Prayer for, Enjoined
Matt. 9:37, 38 Luke 10:2. Rom. 15:30-32; 2 Cor. 1:11; Eph. 6:18-20; Phil. 1:19; Col. 4:2-4; 1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1, 2; Philem. 22; Heb. 13:18, 19
Prayer for, Exemplified
2 Chr. 6:41; Psa. 132:9; Acts 1:24, 25; Acts 4:29; Acts 6:6; Acts 12:5; Acts 14:23
Promises to, and Joys of
2 Sam. 23:6, 7; Psa. 126:5, 6; Jer. 1:7-10, 17-19; Jer. 20:11; Dan. 12:3; Matt. 10:28-31; Matt. 28:20; Luke 12:11, 12; Luke 24:49; John 4:36-38; Acts 1:4, 5, 8; 1 Cor. 9:9, 10; 2 Cor. 2:14-16; 2 Cor. 7:6, 7; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 2:13, 19, 20; 1 Thess. 3:8, 9; 3 John 4 See: Righteous, Promises to.
Success Attending
Jonah, Jonah 1:5, 6, 9, 14, 16; 3:4-9.
Apostles, Acts 2:1-4, 41.
Philip, Acts 8:6, 8, 12.
Peter, Acts 9:32-35.
Paul, Acts 13:16-43; 1 Cor. 4:15; 9:2; 15:11; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3; 12:12; 13:4; Phil. 2:16; 1 Thess. 1:5.
Apollos, Acts 18:24-28.
See: Revivals.
Trials and Persecutions of
1 Kin. 19:1-10; Isa. 20:2, 3; Ezek. 24:15-18; Hos. 1:2; Amos 5:10; Amos 7:10-17; Matt. 10:16-27; Matt. 23:34; 1 Cor. 2:1-4; 1 Cor. 4:9-13; 2 Cor. 6:4-10; 2 Cor. 7:5; 2 Cor. 11:23-33; 2 Cor. 12:7-12; Gal. 4:13, 14; Eph. 3:1, 13
Falsely Accused
See: Accusation, False.
See also Persecution.
Instances of Persecution:
Micaiah, 1 Kin. 22:24-27.
Hanani, 2 Chr. 16:10.
Zechariah, 2 Chr. 24:20, 21.
The apostles, Acts 5:17-42.
Peter, Acts 12:3-19.
Paul, Acts 9:23-25, 29, 30; 14:6-20; 16:11-40; 17:1-13; 20:3; 21:27-40; 22:18, 21, 24-30; 23:11-35; 24-26; 2 Cor. 11:31-33; Gal. 1:21-24; 2 Tim. 1:8, 16; 2:9; 4:16, 17.
See: Elijah; Jeremiah.
Zealous
Titus, 2 Cor. 8:16, 17.
Epaphroditus, Phil. 2:25-30.
Epaphras, Col. 4:12, 13.
Tychicus, Col. 4:7.
John, in his vision, Rev. 5:4, 5.
See: Zeal.

MINISTER [SMITH]

This term is used in the Authorized Version to describe various officials of a religious and civil character. Its meaning, as distinguished from servant, is a voluntary attendant on another. In the Old Testament it is applied (1) to an attendance upon a person of high rank, (Exodus 24:13; Joshua 1:1; 2 Kings 4:43) (2) to the attaches of a royal court, (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chronicles 22:8) comp. Psal 104:4 (3) To the priests and Levites. (Ezra 8:17; Nehemiah 10:36; Isaiah 61:6; Ezekiel 44:11; Joel 1:9,13) One term in the New Testament betokens a subordinate public administrator, (Romans 13:6; 15:16; Hebrews 8:2) one who performs certain gratuitous public services. A second term contains the idea of actual and personal attendance upon a superior, as in (Luke 4:20) The minister?s duty was to open and close the building, to produce and replace the books employed in the service, and generally to wait on the officiating priest or teacher. A third term, diakonos (from which comes our word deacon), is the one usually employed in relation to the ministry of the gospel: its application is twofold, --in a general sense to indicate ministers of any order, whether superior or inferior, and in a special sense to indicate an order of inferiors ministers. [DEACON]