The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-08
From the Southern Presbyterian Review.
THE DEACON'S OFFICE IN THE CHURCH
OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
(CONTINUED.l

CONTINUED.
The doctrine of our Church as to the dea
con, is briefly expressed in chapter VI o.
the Form of Government, and embraces the
following points: |. The deaconship is 8
permanent Office by divine appointment il
the Church of Christ. II. 1t pertains ex
clusively to matters of finance. III. Dea
cons have entire control over the aims Of
the saints, intended for the use of the poor
". To them also may be properly commit
ted the temporal affairs of the Church
l. AS to the first element in the doctrine
of the deacon, the permanance of the office
as divine appointment in the Church, there
is no difference of opinion, according to DIR.
Bannerman, among the Papal, Anglican,
Presbyterian, or Congregational Churches.
The denial of this position, therefore, may
be set down as individual opinion, though it
be acquiesced in by some of the smaller
bodies calling themselves Christian. The
permanence of the diaconate has been called
in question (D on the allegation that the ne
cessity recorded in Acts vi, as the occasion
of appointing men to this business. was tran
sient in its nature; and (2) that the term
used to designate the supposed office is ap-
piled to so many persons, and in such va
riety of relations, that nothing definite can
be inferred from it. To these objections it
is only necessary to answer, { that the ne
cessity for such an Office has not passed away
the poor are always with us, according to the
Master word and if inspired apostles need
ed such help, how much more those who come
after them! (2) Paups salutation to the
"deacons," as a separate class of Office
bearers in the church at Philippi, Phil. i: ~
and yet more clearly his directions to limo
thy, Il Tim. iii; S-13,) as to the qualifca-
tions necessary to fit persons for holding the
office, place it beyond all question that a
separate and permanent office is intended
(3) The same objection of various signifca-
tions in the name of this officer can be, on
the same grounds, made against others also,
both ordinary and extraordinary. Pastor
signifies one who takes care of sheep as well
as those church officers who supervise the
flock of Christ. ApostOlos signifies a mes
sepger sent upon any errand, as well as those
inspired men, twelve in number at first, tc
whom Paul was afterwards added, sent forth
by the Lord Jesus to found churches anC
write Scripture. Pres5yterOs is used in tht
common meaning of an old man as we'll al
the ecclesiastical sense of ruler in the
Church. The only question is, Have we suf
6cient evidence of this special or ecclesiastical
application? And in reply, We allege thu
instances cited above. x
II. The second point in the doctrine o
our Church is, that the deacon's Office per
tains exclusively to the finances, and not tt
government, preaching, or administration o
Sacraments. Here we part company will
Papists, Anglicans, and with most Of tn
Congregational bodies also. In the COngre
gational churches, deacons exercise function
nearly akin to those of the Presbyterian
elder, the chief point of difference being tina
discipline. is commonly administered imme
diatey by the church-members, and not b.
their official representatives. The finance
being for the most part in the hands of com
mittees, the Congregational deacon is tn
spiritual adviser of the pastor and of tn
people. In virtue of his office, he conduct
religious exercises, and feels authorized t
preach when occasion offers in frontier an
destitute neighborhoods. DR.. King justl
observes that the usages of our Congregation
al brethren bear silent testimony to tn
wisdom of our Presbyterian system, by show
ing the need of just such an ofice-bearer a
the ruling elder, intermediate, as it were, b.
tween the people and the preacher.
The Anglican and Methodist EpiscOp'
doctrine is for substance the same as that {
Rome, certain excesses being omitted The
hold the deacon to be the third order of tf
clergy, bishops being the first, and prizes
being the second. To the deacon pertain tt
*According to HouSton's Critical Greek CONGO
dance, diakonos occurs thirty times in the New lie
lament in twenty of which cases our version rendee
it minister; in seven, serUant and in three onl
deacon. The verb diakoneo, and its derivativ
diakoria are found thiryseven and thirty four tim
a respectively, and with about the renderings
the English version. 1t is curious circumstanc
e that the old Anglo Saxon seems not to have be-
able to furnish suitable term for dOuloS or diakon(
and hence borrowed minister, Servant deacon, or
Q correlative words Serf and slave.