POINT #14. The first seven deacons chosen to administrate the early Christian church were all men.

Post #17 of my critique of the Women's Ordination video listed below: POINT #14. The first seven deacons chosen to administrate the early Christian church were all men. 

Once again this study has challenged my knowledge of the bible.  Did you know the seven men chosen at the beginning of church are not specifically called Deacons? We will get to why we call them that later in our study.  First of all let’s look at the word deacon and see how it is used in the bible. From Strongs this is the word Deacon in Greek with its meaning:

G1249 διάκονος, diakonos, dee-ak'-on-os

Probably from διάκω diakō (obsolete, to run on errands; compare G1377); an attendant, that is, (generally) a waiter (at table or in other menial duties); specifically a Christian teacher and pastor (technically a deacon or deaconess): - deacon, minister, servant.

This word is used 30 times in the New Testament in 28 verses. I am going to list them all so you can get a feel of how the word is used. Ironically enough the first person, other than Jesus, who is called a deacon is Phebe, a woman:

Mat_20:26  But^G1161 it shall not^G3756 be^G2071 so^G3779 among^G1722 you:^G5213 but^G235 whosoever^{G3739 G1437} will^G2309 be^G1096 great^G3173 among^G1722 you,^G5213 let him be^G2077 your^G5216 minister;^G1249

Mat_22:13  Then^G5119 said^G2036 the^G3588 king^G935 to the^G3588 servants,^G1249 Bind^G1210 him^G846 hand^G5495 and^G2532 foot,^G4228 and take him away,^{G142 G846} and^G2532 cast^G1544 him into^G1519 outer^G1857 darkness;^G4655 there^G1563 shall be^G2071 weeping^G2805 and^G2532 gnashing^G1030 of teeth.^G3599

Mat_23:11  But^G1161 he that is greatest^G3187 among you^G5216 shall be^G2071 your^G5216 servant.^G1249

Mar_9:35  And^G2532 he sat down,^G2523 and called^G5455 the^G3588 twelve,^G1427 and^G2532 saith^G3004 unto them,^G846 If any man^G1536 desire^G2309 to be^G1511 first,^G4413 the same shall be^G2071 last^G2078 of all,^G3956 and^G2532 servant^G1249 of all.^G3956

Mar_10:43  But^G1161 so^G3779 shall it not^G3756 be^G2071 among^G1722 you:^G5213 but^G235 whosoever^{G3739 G1437} will^G2309 be^G1096 great^G3173 among^G1722 you,^G5213 shall be^G2071 your^G5216 minister:^G1249

Joh_2:5  His^G846 mother^G3384 saith^G3004 unto the^G3588 servants,^G1249 Whatsoever^{G3748 G302} he saith^G3004 unto you,^G5213 do^G4160 it.

Joh_2:9  ^(G1161) When^G5613 the^G3588 ruler of the feast^G755 had tasted^G1089 the^G3588 water^G5204 that was made^G1096 wine,^G3631 and^G2532 knew^G1492 not^G3756 whence^G4159 it was:^G2076 (but^G1161 the^G3588 servants^G1249 which drew^G501 the^G3588 water^G5204 knew;)^G1492 the^G3588 governor of the feast^G755 called^G5455 the^G3588 bridegroom,^G3566

Joh_12:26  If^G1437 any man^G5100 serve^G1247 me,^G1698 let him follow^G190 me;^G1698 and^G2532 where^G3699 I^G1473 am,^G1510 there^G1563 shall also^G2532 my^G1699 servant^G1249 be:^{G2071 (G2532)} if^G1437 any man^G5100 serve^G1247 me,^G1698 him^G846 will my Father^G3962 honour.^G5091

Rom_13:4  For^G1063 he is^G2076 the minister^G1249 of God^G2316 to thee^G4671 for^G1519 good.^G18 But^G1161 if^G1437 thou do^G4160 that which is evil,^G2556 be afraid;^G5399 for^G1063 he beareth^G5409 not^G3756 the^G3588 sword^G3162 in vain:^G1500 for^G1063 he is^G2076 the minister^G1249 of God,^G2316 a revenger^G1558 to^G1519 execute wrath^G3709 upon him that doeth^G4238 evil.^G2556

Rom_15:8  Now^G1161 I say^G3004 that Jesus^G2424 Christ^G5547 was^G1096 a minister^G1249 of the circumcision^G4061 for^G5228 the truth^G225 of God,^G2316 to confirm^G950 the^G3588 promises^G1860 made unto the^G3588 fathers:^G3962

Rom_16:1  ^(G1161) I commend^G4921 unto you^G5213 Phebe^G5402 our^G2257 sister,^G79 which is^G5607 a servant^G1249 of the^G3588 church^G1577 which^G3588 is at^G1722 Cenchrea:^G2747

1Co_3:5  Who^G5101 then^G3767 is^G2076 Paul,^G3972 and^G1161 who^G5101 is Apollos,^G625 but^{G235 (G2228)} ministers^G1249 by^G1223 whom^G3739 ye believed,^G4100 even^G2532 as^G5613 the^G3588 Lord^G2962 gave^G1325 to every man?^G1538

2Co_3:6  Who^G3739 also^G2532 hath made us able^{G2427 G2248} ministers^G1249 of the new^G2537 testament;^G1242 not^G3756 of the letter,^G1121 but^G235 of the spirit:^G4151 for^G1063 the^G3588 letter^G1121 killeth,^G615 but^G1161 the^G3588 spirit^G4151 giveth life.^G2227

2Co_6:4  But^G235 in^G1722 all^G3956 things approving^G4921 ourselves^G1438 as^G5613 the ministers^G1249 of God,^G2316 in^G1722 much^G4183 patience,^G5281 in^G1722 afflictions,^G2347 in^G1722 necessities,^G318 in^G1722 distresses,^G4730

2Co_11:15  Therefore^G3767 it is no^G3756 great thing^G3173 if^G1499 his^G846 ministers^G1249 also be transformed^G3345 as^G5613 the ministers^G1249 of righteousness;^G1343 whose^G3739 end^G5056 shall be^G2071 according^G2596 to their^G846 works.^G2041

2Co_11:23  Are^G1526 they ministers^G1249 of Christ? (I^G5547 speak^G2980 as a fool)^G3912 I^G1473 am more;^G5228 in^G1722 labours^G2873 more abundant,^G4056 in^G1722 stripes^G4127 above measure,^G5234 in^G1722 prisons^G5438 more frequent,^G4056 in^G1722 deaths^G2288 oft.^G4178

Gal_2:17  But^G1161 if,^G1487 while we seek^G2212 to be justified^G1344 by^G1722 Christ,^G5547 we^G846 ourselves also^G2532 are found^G2147 sinners,^G268 is therefore^G687 Christ^G5547 the minister^G1249 of sin?^G266 God forbid.^{G1096 G3361}

Eph_3:7  Whereof^G3739 I was made^G1096 a minister,^G1249 according^G2596 to the^G3588 gift^G1431 of the^G3588 grace^G5485 of God^G2316 given^G1325 unto me^G3427 by^G2596 the^G3588 effectual working^G1753 of his^G846 power.^G1411

Eph_6:21  But^G1161 that^G2443 ye^G5210 also^G2532 may know^G1492 my affairs,^{G2596 G1691} and how^G5101 I do,^G4238 Tychicus,^G5190 a beloved^G27 brother^G80 and^G2532 faithful^G4103 minister^G1249 in^G1722 the Lord,^G2962 shall make known^G1107 to you^G5213 all things:^G3956

Php_1:1  Paul^G3972 and^G2532 Timotheus,^G5095 the servants^G1401 of Jesus^G2424 Christ,^G5547 to all^G3956 the^G3588 saints^G40 in^G1722 Christ^G5547 Jesus^G2424 which are^G5607 at^G1722 Philippi,^G5375 with^G4862 the bishops^G1985 and^G2532 deacons:^G1249

Col_1:7  As^G2531 ye also^G2532 learned^G3129 of^G575 Epaphras^G1889 our^G2257 dear^G27 fellowservant,^G4889 who^G3739 is^G2076 for^G5228 you^G5216 a faithful^G4103 minister^G1249 of Christ;^G5547

Col_1:23  If^G1489 ye continue^G1961 in the^G3588 faith^G4102 grounded^G2311 and^G2532 settled,^G1476 and^G2532 be not^G3361 moved away^G3334 from^G575 the^G3588 hope^G1680 of the^G3588 gospel,^G2098 which^G3739 ye have heard,^G191 and which was preached^G2784 to^G1722 every^G3956 creature^G2937 which^G3588 is under^G5259 heaven;^G3772 whereof^G3739 I^G1473 Paul^G3972 am made^G1096 a minister;^G1249

Col_1:25  Whereof^G3739 I^G1473 am made^G1096 a minister,^G1249 according^G2596 to the^G3588 dispensation^G3622 of God^G2316 which is given^G1325 to me^G3427 for^G1519 you,^G5209 to fulfil^G4137 the^G3588 word^G3056 of God;^G2316

Col_4:7  All^G3956 my state^{G2596 G1691} shall Tychicus^G5190 declare^G1107 unto you,^G5213 who is a beloved^G27 brother,^G80 and^G2532 a faithful^G4103 minister^G1249 and^G2532 fellowservant^G4889 in^G1722 the Lord:^G2962

1Th_3:2  And^G2532 sent^G3992 Timotheus,^G5095 our^G2257 brother,^G80 and^G2532 minister^G1249 of God,^G2316 and^G2532 our^G2257 fellowlabourer^G4904 in^G1722 the^G3588 gospel^G2098 of Christ,^G5547 to establish^G4741 you,^G5209 and^G2532 to comfort^G3870 you^G5209 concerning^G4012 your^G5216 faith:^G4102

1Ti_3:8  Likewise^G5615 must the deacons^G1249 be grave,^G4586 not^G3361 doubletongued,^G1351 not^G3361 given^G4337 to much^G4183 wine,^G3631 not^G3361 greedy of filthy lucre;^G146

1Ti_3:12  Let the deacons^G1249 be^G2077 the husbands^G435 of one^G3391 wife,^G1135 ruling^G4291 their children^G5043 and^G2532 their own^G2398 houses^G3624 well.^G2573

1Ti_4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance^{G5294 G3588 G80} of these things,^G5023 thou shalt be^G2071 a good^G2570 minister^G1249 of Jesus^G2424 Christ,^G5547 nourished up^G1789 in the^G3588 words^G3056 of faith^G4102 and^G2532 of good^G2570 doctrine,^G1319 whereunto^G3739 thou hast attained.^G3877

So we have 7 people listed as deacons in some form or fashion, Jesus, Phoebe, Paul, Apollos, Tychicus, Epaphras, and Timothy. 

It would seem that this word deacon is actually the word most connected with the job of minister. It is the picture of what Pastors are supposed to be doing? Because it appears that the job most associated with this title is that of waiting on tables or being a servant.  So now that we know what deacons do, we can ask the question of why we call the seven men chosen in Acts 6 Deacons.  “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews^[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ² So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. ³ Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them⁴ and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:1-4

If you look at the phrase “in order to wait on tables” it is the word, “dee-ak-on-eh'-o

From G1249; to be an attendant, that is, wait upon (menially or as a host, friend or [figuratively] teacher); technically to act as a Christian deacon: - (ad-) minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.”

While the word Deacon means “a servant”, this word means to “act as a servant”.  So these 7 men are Deacons or ministers.  But let’s ask ourselves is this job description something that women are excluded from even today?  Are women not allowed to wait on tables and serve the poor, widows and or orphans?  I don’t think anyone would say that women are excluded from doing this job.  In fact maybe we need more men actually doing the original job of deacon again.  For as you can see, it had nothing to do with mowing church lawns, maintaining a building, or picking up offering.  Instead the word is associated with serving others and most of all making sure that the necessities of life for the less fortunate members of the church were taken care of.