There are a few different English words for “servant,” and they all mean something a little different. The general term, “servant,” refers simply to one who serves. A “slave” is one who is forced to serve. A “minister” is one who serves primarily spiritual things. A “waiter” is one who serves food. A “nurse” is one who serves in the realm of medical things. An “employee” is one who serves his employer.
Just as there are a variety of English words for “servant,” there are variety of Greek words for “servant.” And, since the New Testament was originally written in Greek, it is worth considering these Greek words for “servant.”
First: DOULOS. This word is often translated as “servant” or “bondservant,” but is sometimes translated as “slave.” DOULOS has the idea of forfeiting one’s will for another’s. That is, if you are a DOULOS of God, you consider what God wants from you before and above what you want for yourself. Many New Testament writers began their epistles by declaring themselves as “DOULOS’S of God” (Jas. 1:1; Rom. 1:1; 2 Pet. 1:1; Jude 1:1).
Second: DEACON. It is important to realize that words have different definitions depending on their contexts. For this reason, sometimes the word “deacon” is translated as “servant,” and sometimes it is transliterated, meaning the translators left the word mostly alone, and just wrote down the Greek word. The first time we run into the word DEACON is Acts 6, where the early Christians were criticized for neglecting some widows, and so the apostles appointed 7 men to DEACON (i.e. serve) tables (Acts 6:1-2). In this context, DEACON means to serve in a particular job. In 1 Timothy 3:14-16, DEACON is left untranslated, because it has a slightly different definition. In that context, DEACON refers to the office of a deacon, which is overseen by an eldership of a church. Deacons in the church are still servants serving in a particular job, but their jobs are under the purview of an eldership.
Third: LATREIA. Like our English “minister,” LATREIA also has a religious connotation. LATREIA literally means “service rendered for hire” (Thayer), but is most often applied to serving God. Paul uses this word when begging the Romans to “present their bodies a living sacrifice, which,” he says, is their “reasonable service” (Rom. 12:1). It is reasonable for us to use our bodies in working for the Lord.
God wants us to serve Him –that’s LATREIA. God wants us to serve Him first and foremost –that’s DOULOS. And sometimes, we have the honor of serving Him in specific areas –that’s DEACON. Let’s serve God!
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