What Do Deacons Do?

written by Neal Thornton, Senior Pastor (April 14, 2024)

The English word “deacon” is a transliteration of the Greek word diakonos (Gk: διάκονος) which means “servant.” The noun form diakonia is translated “service.” The verb form diakoneo “to serve” occurs 36 times in the NT. In various instances this Greek word is translated “minister” or “ministry” as in Ephesians 4:12 “to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” Other times, as in Matthew 20:26, for example, Jesus said, “It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” Same word group.

But when the context points to an official service role of the church, the word, in noun form, diakonos (Gk: διάκονος) is translated “deacon,” which you now know is actually a transliteration from the Greek. That occurs in English in two places: Phil. 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (and sometimes Romans 16:1). All that we know about deacons comes from these passages. Further, these passages give very little indication as to the role deacons play in the life of the church. So, given the terminology, and the textual evidence, many simply ask a valid question… What do deacons do?

What Do Deacons Do?

To put it simply, deacons deacon (to invent an English verb!). That is, they serve, as we would say “servants serve.” Their function is baked into their name. The deacon office is the official lead servant role in the church. Pastors (i.e., overseers and elders) serve the church by leading, whereas deacons lead the church by serving. It’s been said that “Deacons are practically focused but spiritually aware, whereas elders are spiritually focused but practically aware.” That’s helpful because the New Testament places a high calling upon both elders and deacons. That deacons are seldom mentioned does not permit us to see them as second rate. Deacons are not Junior Varsity elders. Nor are they a governing board, as some have overcorrected. Instead, deacons are, wait for it, servants of the church. The deacon: a New Testament church office in its own right.

How Do Deacons Serve The Church?

We stop here and note at least three possibilities of what “service” could mean for the role of a deacon. We get our clues from the three uses of the term in the NT. Depending on which Scripture is stressed, one may see the service of deacons in a slightly different light. Deacons function in one if not all three of these roles:

1. Pastoral assistants to the overseers (Philippians 1:1)

Deacons are pastor (i.e., overseer/elder) focused as an extension of the shepherds. The deacon does what the elders don’t have either time or effort to do. They are the pastor’s right hand. They help with everything from administration to counseling to even soul care and evangelism. They are frontline pastoral assistants, which raises the bar even higher on their ministry aptitude. In many larger churches, staff employees are really just paid, full-time deacons. But deacons can serve in this capacity even in smaller churches. In the throes of ministry, deacons can be real difference makers for the church and for its pastors: spotting and meeting tangible needs; protecting and promoting church unity; serving and supporting the ministry of the word. (See Matt Smethurst’s book Deacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the Church.)

2. Benevolent servants to the church (Acts 6:1-7)

Here we think of deacons as people focused: Visiting and caring for the congregation in general. Think homebound ministry, following up with guests, meeting tangible needs of people, etc. They take on a service and helps role focusing on specific ministries in the church (e.g., like the Hellenistic widows ministry in Acts 6:1-2). Here are some reasons to see Acts 6 as the origin of deacons (albeit, the proto-deacon):

The related noun and verb form is found in verse one and two.
The qualifications and activities of the men selected are in line with a more detailed list in 1 Timothy 3. (I’ve written on deacon selection models based on Acts 6.)
If this text is not linked to the origin of deacons, we have no precedent for the office in the early church, nor across scripture, and yet the office is widely accepted in NT churches. It seems odd.

3. Practical help to the ministry (1 Timothy 3:8-13)

We have no example in the NT of deacons at work (the closest is their stated service in Acts 6). We know not what they actually do. However, we can examine the qualifications for deacons as clues for their roles and responsibilities for service. By their qualifications, (“must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain”) it seems that they are in close contact with people in physical aspects of ministry. Further, 1 Timothy 3 presents overseers and deacons adjacent to one another (as in Phil. 1:1) with very similar character qualifications (see my treatment on women deacons). It’s as if 1 Timothy 3:1-13 presents the right hands (overseers) and left hands (deacons) of church leadership.

To stress the mention of deacons occurring in 1 Timothy is to see deacons as ministry focused. They work alongside the pastors, but not simply as administrators in Phil. 1. Nor are they generalists among the congregation as in Acts 6. Here in 1 Timothy they are the lead servant point persons for specific operational ministry assignments and tasks. Think “deacon of children’s ministry,” or of tech ministry. Deacons are those appointed to service, with a specific gifting and skill set in ministry. (Which in terms of selection processes would require them to possess a proven ministry competency on top of their exemplary character.) I think such a role and function gets closest to the true intention of the deacon office.

To press a little more on service roles, it is interesting to note the ambiguity of the office. One wonders if that is by the intention of the Holy Spirit. Think with me: with overseers, elders and pastors, their job description is fairly well explained across the New Testament— leading, teaching, shepherding (cf. 1 Peter 5:1-4). But with deacons not so much. Perhaps because by definition and design the deacon office is to be open ended, capturing a plethora of servant skill sets. Such an understanding of deacon ministry gives room, liberty and latitude for the individual deacons to tailor their ministry to their giftings and abilities and the needs of the church. That is, the deacon, it could be argued, is a utility servant in the church, able to meet a variety of congregational needs from assisting the pastor to the menial task of ministry, all in accordance with how the Lord has wired him (1 Cor. 12).

Primary Role: Exemplary Servants

But there is one other way deacons serve. All deacons are to be examples of Christian character. The language used in 1 Tim. 3:8-13 mentions various facets of life leadership required by the deacon. They are to model an exemplary Christian life before they do anything else. Their example is their primary service, as well as qualification. Just as with pastors, so it is with deacons: Character is king as the Scripture attests, and the congregation recognizes it as such.

If Acts 6:1-7 refers to deacons (assuming those men were indeed prototype deacons), the case for character is even stronger (v. 3). Paul then builds on the teaching of Luke writing some 30 years later. The office of deacon is more formalized in Ephesus (1 Timothy) than it was in Jerusalem (Acts 6). In terms of character, Paul seems to double-click on what Luke provides.

If the deacon does nothing else, he is an example to the flock. What a high calling God has placed on the deacon! These lead servants are not simply to set the example in ministry effort, but in their godly life, demeanor and witness. I know of no pastor or pastoral team—nor healthy church—who is not doubly indebted and equally thankful for a squad of biblically qualified deacons to serve alongside them. Join me in thanking God for deacons today.