Reference: Minister
American
One who attends or waits on another, Mt 20:28; so Elisha was the minister of Elijah, 1Ki 19:21; 2Ki 3:11. These persons did not feel themselves degraded by their stations, and in due time they succeeded to the office of their masters. In like manner, John Mark was minister to Paul and Barnabas, Ac 13:5. Angels are ministers of God and of his people, Ps 103:21; Heb 1:14. The term is applied to one who performs any function, or administers any office or agency: as to magistrates, Ro 15:16; 1Co 4:1; 5:5; and to teachers of error, 2Co 11:15. Christ came to minister, not to be ministered unto; and is called in another sense a minister "of the circumcision," Ro 15:8, and of the heavenly sanctuary, Heb 8:2.
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as the son of man came not to be ministred unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for all.
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
for I tell you, that Jesus Christ was a minister to the Jews, to manifest the veracity of God in fulfilling the promises made to the fathers:
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
therefore it is not strange if his agents are so disguised as to appear like ministers of the gospel; but their end shall be answerable to their actions.
as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.
Easton
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 (2Ki 4:43). This name is also given to attendants at court (2Ch 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jer 33:21; Eze 44:11).
(2.) Heb pelah (Ezr 7:24), a "minister" of religion. Here used of that class of sanctuary servants called "Solomon's servants" in Ezr 2:55-58; Ne 7:57-60.
(3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Ro 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Heb 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Ro 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 (Lu 4:20). It is applied also to John Mark, the attendant on Paul and Barnabas (Ac 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 (1Co 3:5), Tychicus (Eph 6:21), Epaphras (Col 1:7), Timothy (1Th 3:2), and also to Christ (Ro 15:8).
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then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
for I tell you, that Jesus Christ was a minister to the Jews, to manifest the veracity of God in fulfilling the promises made to the fathers:
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them?
As to the state of my affairs, and health, Tychicus our dear brother, and faithful minister in the Lord, will very particularly acquaint you with them.
which you heard was offer'd to you, by the instructions of Epaphras, our dear fellow-servant, who is to you a faithful minister of Christ:
a minister of God, and our collegue in preaching the gospel of Christ, that by establishing you in the faith, and by his exhortations,
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.
Fausets
Minister mesharet. As Joshua was to Moses (Ex 24:13; Jos 1:1), and Elisha's "servitor" (2Ki 4:43). The king's subordinate attendants, as "servants" are higher officials (1Ki 10:5). The angelic attendants of the heavenly King (Ps 104:4). The priests and Levites, "ministers of our God" (Isa 61:6). In New Testament leitourgos is a "public administrator", civil as the magistrate (Ro 13:4,6), or sacerdotal as the Aaronic priests were (Heb 10:11) and as Christ was (Heb 8:2), and as Paul figuratively was, presenting as a sacrifice before God the Gentiles converted by his ministry of the gospel (Ro 15:16) and their faith (Php 2:17), and as Christians minister their alms (Ro 15:27; 2Co 9:12).
Liturgy at Athens meant public service rendered gratuitously to the state; hence the sense of public Divine service (not restricted to sacrifice, Lu 1:23): Ac 13:2. Hufretes is a greater man's "personal attendant" (literally, the rower under the steersman) or subordinate in waiting, as Mark was to Saul and Barnabas (Ac 13:5); also (Lu 1:2; Ac 26:16) interchanged with diakonos (1Co 4:1; 3:5), both applied to Paul. diakonos is also applied especially to deacons as distinguished from presbyter bishops (Php 1:1; 1Ti 3:8-13).
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according as they were delivered to us by persons, who were all along eye-witnesses, and had a share in the transactions themselves:
and the time of his officiating being ended, he departed to his own house.
as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them.
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you,
for his administration is appointed by God for your good. but if you do wrong, you have reason to be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: he being the minister of God, to execute punishment upon malefactors.
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
they have thought fit, I say, and they owed them as much. for if the Gentiles have participated of their spirituals, they are bound on their side to minister to them in their temporals.
who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye have received faith according to the divine gifts imparted to each of them?
Let men consider us, as the ministers of Christ, who dispense the divine mysteries.
the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the christians that are at Philippi, to the bishops, and to the deacons.
and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon;
This is a secure rule, and what I would have you constantly maintain, that they who have believed in God, should take care to be examples of virtue, for that is commendable and useful to mankind. but avoid frivolous enquiries about genealogies, and vexatious disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. read more. A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, avoid: it being plain that such a person is perverted, and knows in his own conscience that his tenets are false. When I shall send you Artemas, or Tychicus, endeavour to meet me at Nicopolis: for I have determined to winter there. dispatch Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, and take care that nothing be wanting to their journey.
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.
While the high priest in his daily administrations frequently repeated the same sacrifices which could by no means expiate sin;
Hastings
The word 'minister' comes from the Lat. minister = 'servant,' and generally it may be said that wherever it is found in the Bible, whether in OT or in NT, its original meaning is its primary one, service being the idea it is specially meant to convey.
1. In OT it is used (corresponding to the same Heb. word in each case) of Joshua as the personal attendant of Moses (Ex 24:13; Jos 1:1), of the servants in the court of Solomon (1Ki 10:5), of angels and the elemental forces of nature as the messengers and agents of the Divine will (Ps 103:21; 104:4; cf. Heb 1:7,14), but, above all, of the priests and Levites as the servants of Jehovah in Tabernacle and Temple (Ex 28:35; 1Ki 8:11; Ezr 8:17, and constantly). The secular uses of the Heb. word, standing side by side with the sacred, show that it was not in itself a priestly term. Ministry was not necessarily a priestly thing, though priesthood was one form of ministry.
2. In NT several Gr. words are tr 'minister,' three of which call for notice. (1) hyp
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but it must not be so among you: on the contrary, whoever would rise among you, let him be your minister.
And several women were there who look'd on at a distance, and had followed Jesus from Galilee, to assist him with their service.
according as they were delivered to us by persons, who were all along eye-witnesses, and had a share in the transactions themselves:
and the time of his officiating being ended, he departed to his own house.
then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
but Martha perplex'd with the hurry of her affairs, came to him, and said, Lord, don't you observe my sister has left me to serve all alone: direct her therefore to give me some assistance.
there a supper was provided for him; Martha was in waiting: but Lazarus was one of the guests that sat at table with him.
if any man would serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my servant be: whoever serves me, him will my father reward.
At that time, as the number of the disciples was multiplied, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the distribution that was made daily.
whilst we shall continue our applications to prayer, and to preaching.
as they were ministring to the Lord, and fasting, the holy spirit said to them, separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work to which I have destin'd them.
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
he sent therefore Timothy and Erastus, two of his assistants in the ministry, before to Macedonia; but stay'd himself in Asia for some time.
I answer'd, who art thou, Lord? he said, "I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest.
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
and there are different offices, but the same Lord.
and there are different offices, but the same Lord.
for the execution of this charitable office, does not only supply the necessities of the converts, but by the thanksgivings of many redounds also to the glory of God.
"that the Gentiles should be heirs as well as the Jews, make one body together, and partake of the divine promise in Christ by the gospel." of this I was made a minister, according to the gracious gift God bestowed on me, by the effectual operation of his influence:
the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the christians that are at Philippi, to the bishops, and to the deacons.
and if my blood should serve as a libation to ratify your faith, I should rejoice and congratulate with you all thereupon;
however I thought it necessary to send you Epaphroditus my brother, my collegue in the ministry, and my fellow-soldier, whom you had sent to supply my wants:
for he was upon the brink of death for the service of Christ, having expos'd his life to the greatest dangers, to perform those kind offices, which you could not do yourselves.
these are vices which draw down the divine vengeance upon unbelieving nations;
as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.
If you represent these things to the brethren, you will appear to be a true minister of Jesus Christ, brought up in the institutions of faith, and the true doctrine to which you were attach'd.
Admonish them to be subject to princes and to magistrates, to obey their orders, and to exert their virtue and loyalty upon all occasions. to speak evil of no man. to avoid contention, to be moderate and entirely inoffensive to all men. read more. for even we ourselves were once inconsiderate, disobedient, deluded, addicted to variety of passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, the deserving objects of mutual hatred. but when the kindness and love of God our saviour display'd itself to mankind, he saved us not in consideration of any virtuous actions which we had done, but out of his meer mercy, by the baptism of regeneration, he form'd us anew, by the plentiful effusion of the holy spirit, thro' Jesus Christ our saviour: that being justified by his favour, we should have the inheritance of eternal life, according to our hopes. This is a secure rule, and what I would have you constantly maintain, that they who have believed in God, should take care to be examples of virtue, for that is commendable and useful to mankind. but avoid frivolous enquiries about genealogies, and vexatious disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick, after the first and second admonition, avoid: it being plain that such a person is perverted, and knows in his own conscience that his tenets are false. When I shall send you Artemas, or Tychicus, endeavour to meet me at Nicopolis: for I have determined to winter there. dispatch Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, and take care that nothing be wanting to their journey.
I would have kept him with me, to assist me in your stead during my confinement for the gospel.
and of the angels, he saith, who employs his angels like the winds, and flames of fire as his ministers."
are not all those spirits dispatch'd as ministers to take care of those who shall belong to the christian church.
he sprinkled likewise the tabernacle with blood, and all the vessels used in divine service.
While the high priest in his daily administrations frequently repeated the same sacrifices which could by no means expiate sin;
Morish
The word commonly occurring in the O.T. is sharath, 'to minister, serve.' Joshua was Moses' minister. All God's hosts are called 'ministers of his, that do his pleasure,' and He maketh 'his ministers a flaming fire.' The priests were the ministers of Jehovah. Jos 1:1; Ps 103:21; 104:4; Joe 2:17. In the N.T. three words are used.
1. ????????. See DEACON.
2. ??????????, a public servant,' one holding an official position. It is applied to the Lord; to angels; to Paul; and to magistrates. Ro 13:6; 15:16; Heb 1:7. Heb 8:2.
3. ????????, lit. 'under-rower,' and so an 'attendant' on, or 'assistant ' to a superior authority. Lu 1:2; 4:20; Ac 13:5; 26:16; 1Co 4:1. It is also translated 'officer' and 'servant.'
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according as they were delivered to us by persons, who were all along eye-witnesses, and had a share in the transactions themselves:
then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
but rise upright upon thy feet: for I have appear'd to thee in order to establish you my minister in testifying both what you have seen, and what I shall hereafter show to you,
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.
and of the angels, he saith, who employs his angels like the winds, and flames of fire as his ministers."
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.
Smith
Minister.
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,
(2) to the attaches of a royal court,
comp. Psal 104:4 (3) to the priests and Levites.
Ezr 8:17; Ne 10:36; Isa 61:6; Eze 44:11; Joe 1:9,13
One term in the New Testament betokens a subordinate public administrator,
one who performs certain gratuitous public services. A second term contains the idea of actual and personal attendance upon a superior, as in
Lu 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]
See Deacon
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then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
to be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, officiating the gospel of God, that the Gentiles might be made an acceptable offering, being sanctified by the holy spirit.
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.
Watsons
MINISTER, one who attends or waits on another; so we find Elisha was the minister of Elijah, and did him services of various kinds, 2Ki 3:11. So Joshua was the servant of Moses, Ex 24:13; 33:11. And these persons did not by any means feel themselves degraded by their stations, but in due time they succeeded to the offices of their masters. In like manner John Mark was minister to Paul and Barnabas, Ac 13:5. Christ is called a minister of the true, that is, the heavenly, sanctuary. The minister of the synagogue was appointed to keep the book of the law, to observe that those who read it, read it correctly, &c, Lu 4:20. The rabbins say he was the same as the angel of the church or overseer. Lightfoot says, Baal Aruch expounds the chazan, or minister of the congregation, by sheliach hatzibbor, or angel of the congregation; and from this common platform and constitution of the synagogue, we may observe the Apostle's expression of some elders ruling and labouring in word and doctrine, others in the general affairs of the synagogue. Ministers were servants, yet servants not menial, but honourable; those who explain the word, and conduct the service of God; those who dispense the laws and promote the welfare of the community; the holy angels who in obedience to the divine commands protect, preserve, succour, and benefit the godly, are all ministers, beneficial ministers, to those who are under their charge, Heb 8:2; Ex 30:10; Le 16:15; 1Co 4:1; Ro 13:6; Ps 104:4.
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then he closed the book, and returning it to the minister, he sat down: and as the eyes of the whole synagogue were fix'd with attention upon him,
when they were arrived at Salamis, they preach'd the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, and had John for their assistant.
from a principle of conscience. for this is the reason why you also pay tribute, because under God, they are continually
as for you, masters, give to your servants what is just and suitable: considering that you also have a master in heaven.
a priest of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle which the Lord made, and not man.