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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And he went back again from after him, and took a yoke of oxen and slew them, and dressed the flesh with the instruments of the oxen and gave it the people, and they did eat. And then he arose and went after Elijah and ministered unto him.
Even as the son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister: and to give his life for the redemption of many."
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
And I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
Therefore it is no great thing, though his ministers fashion themselves as though they were the ministers of righteousness: whose end shall be according to their deeds.
Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.
Are they not all spirits to do service, sent for to minister for their sakes, which shall be heirs of salvation?
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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And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when Moses turned again in to the host, the lad Joshua, his servant, the son of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
"What should I set this before a hundred men?" And he said, "Set it before the people and let them eat. For thus sayeth the LORD, 'They shall eat and leave.'"
And as Jehu was executing justice upon the house of Ahab. He found the lords of Judah and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah that waited on Ahaziah, and he slew them.
The children of Solomon's servants: The children of Sotai, the children of Hassophereth, the children of Peruda; The children of Jaalah, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel; read more. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pocherethhazzebaim, the children of Ami. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were all together three hundred and two and ninety.
And known be it unto you, that ye shall have no authority to require taxing and custom, yearly rents upon any of the priests, Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers in the house of this God.
The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, read more. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were all together three hundred and two and ninety.
Then may my covenant also be broken, which I made with David my servant, and so he not to have a son to reign in his Throne. So shall also the priests and Levites never fail, but serve me.
Should they be set and ordained to minister under the doors of the house of my Sanctuary? And to do service in the house: to slay burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people; to stand before them, and to serve them;
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
And I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
What is Paul? What thing is Apollos? Only ministers are they, by whom ye believed: even as the Lord gave every man grace.
But that ye may also know that condition I am in, and what I do, Tychicus my dear brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall show you of all things,
as ye learned of Epaphras our dear fellow servant, which is for you a faithful minister of Christ,
and sent Timothy our brother and minister of God, and our labour fellow in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you over your faith,
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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Then Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the hill of God,
After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his servitors and their apparel, and his butlers and his sacrifice that he offered in the house of the LORD, she was astonished.
"What should I set this before a hundred men?" And he said, "Set it before the people and let them eat. For thus sayeth the LORD, 'They shall eat and leave.'"
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
But ye shall be named the priests of the LORD, and men shall call you the servants of our God. Ye shall enjoy the goods of the Gentiles and triumph in their substance.
even as they declared them unto us, which from the beginning saw their selves, and were ministers at the doing:
And it fortuned, as soon as the time of his office was out, he departed home into his own house. And after those days,
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted; The holy ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them."
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
But rise and stand up on thy feet. For I have appeared unto thee for this purpose: to make thee a minister, and a witness both of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things in thee which I will appear unto thee,
For he is the minister of God, for thy wealth. But and if thou do evil, then fear: for he beareth not a sword for nought; but is the minister of God, to take vengeance on them that do evil.
And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
It hath pleased them verily, and their debtors are they. For if the gentiles be made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is to minister unto them in carnal things.
What is Paul? What thing is Apollos? Only ministers are they, by whom ye believed: even as the Lord gave every man grace.
Let men this wise esteem us, even as the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the secrets of God.
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Yea, and though I be offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your faith: I rejoice and rejoice with you all.
This is a true saying. Of these things I would thou shouldest certify, that they which believe God, might be diligent to go forward in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Foolish questions, and genealogies, and brawlings and strife about the law; avoid, for they are unprofitable, and superfluous. read more. A man that is given to heresy, after the first and the second admonition; avoid, remembering that he that is such, is perverted, and sinneth, even damned by his own judgement. When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me unto Nicopolis. For I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey diligently, that nothing be lacking unto them.
and is a minister of holy things, and of the very tabernacle which God pitched, and not man.
And every priest is ready daily ministering, and often times offereth one manner of offering, which can never take away sins:
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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Then Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the hill of God,
And Aaron shall have it upon him when he ministereth, that the sound may be heard when he goeth into the holy place before the LORD and when he cometh out, that he die not.
After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his servitors and their apparel, and his butlers and his sacrifice that he offered in the house of the LORD, she was astonished.
And to those gave I commandment unto Iddo, the chiefest at Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinims at Casiphia: that they should cause the ministers of the house of our God to come unto us.
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
It shall not be so among you: But whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister,
And many women were there, beholding him afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him.
even as they declared them unto us, which from the beginning saw their selves, and were ministers at the doing:
And it fortuned, as soon as the time of his office was out, he departed home into his own house. And after those days,
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And Martha was cumbered about much serving, and stood and said, "Master, dost thou not care, that my sister hath left me to minister alone? Bid her therefore, that she help me."
There they made him a supper, and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.
If any man minister unto me, let him follow me: and where I am, there shall also my minister be. And if any man minister unto me, him will my father honour.
In those days, as the number of the disciples grew, there arose a grudge among the Greeks against the Hebrews, because their widows were despised in the daily ministration.
but we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministration of the word."
As they ministered to the Lord and fasted; The holy ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul, for the work whereunto I have called them."
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
So sent he into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him: Timothy and Erastus: but he himself remained in Asia for a season.
And I said, 'Who art thou Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
And there are differences of administrations, and yet but one Lord.
And there are differences of administrations, and yet but one Lord.
For the office of this ministration, not only supplieth the need of the saints: but also is abundant herein, that for this laudable ministering, thanks might be given to God of many,
That the gentiles should be inheritors also, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise that is in Christ, by the means of the gospel, whereof I am made a minister, by the gift of the grace of God given unto me, through the working of his power.
Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ. To all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.
Yea, and though I be offered up upon the offering and sacrifice of your faith: I rejoice and rejoice with you all.
I supposed it necessary to send brother Epaphroditus unto you, my companion in labour and fellow soldier, your apostle, and my minister at my needs.
because that for the work of Christ he went so far, that he was nigh unto death, and regarded not his life, to fulfill that service which was lacking on your part toward me.
for which thing's sakes the wrath of God cometh on the children of unbelief.
Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.
If thou shalt put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ which hast been nourished up in the words of the faith, and good doctrine, which doctrine thou hast continually followed.
Warn them, that they submit themselves to rule and power, to obey the officers, that they be ready unto all good works, that they speak evil of no man, that they be no fighters, but soft, showing all meekness unto all men. read more. For we ourselves also were in times past, unwise, disobedient, deceived, in danger to lusts, and to divers manners of voluptuousness, living in maliciousness and envy, full of hate, hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of our saviour God to man ward appeared, not of the deeds of righteousness which we wrought, but of his mercy, he saved us, by the fountain of the new birth, and with the renewing of the holy ghost, which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our saviour; that we, once justified by his grace, should be heirs of eternal life, through hope. This is a true saying. Of these things I would thou shouldest certify, that they which believe God, might be diligent to go forward in good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. Foolish questions, and genealogies, and brawlings and strife about the law; avoid, for they are unprofitable, and superfluous. A man that is given to heresy, after the first and the second admonition; avoid, remembering that he that is such, is perverted, and sinneth, even damned by his own judgement. When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me unto Nicopolis. For I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer, and Apollos, on their journey diligently, that nothing be lacking unto them.
whom I would fain have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel.
And of the angels he saith, "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers flames of fire."
Are they not all spirits to do service, sent for to minister for their sakes, which shall be heirs of salvation?
Moreover, he sprinkled the tabernacle with blood also, and all the ministering vessels.
And every priest is ready daily ministering, and often times offereth one manner of offering, which can never take away sins:
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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After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
Let the priests that minister unto the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and say, "Spare, Lord, thy people: and deliver not thine heritage unto rebuke that the heathen should reign over them. Why should they say among the nations, 'Where is their God?'"
even as they declared them unto us, which from the beginning saw their selves, and were ministers at the doing:
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
But rise and stand up on thy feet. For I have appeared unto thee for this purpose: to make thee a minister, and a witness both of those things which thou hast seen, and of those things in thee which I will appear unto thee,
And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.
And of the angels he saith, "He maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers flames of fire."
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 Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the hill of God,
After the death of Moses, the servant of the LORD, the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying,
and the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the standing of his servitors and their apparel, and his butlers and his sacrifice that he offered in the house of the LORD, she was astonished.
And to those gave I commandment unto Iddo, the chiefest at Casiphia; and I told them what they should say unto Iddo and his brethren the Nethinims at Casiphia: that they should cause the ministers of the house of our God to come unto us.
and the firstlings of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law: and the firstlings of our oxen and of our sheep, that we should bring all this to the house of our God unto the priests that minister in the house of our God:
But ye shall be named the priests of the LORD, and men shall call you the servants of our God. Ye shall enjoy the goods of the Gentiles and triumph in their substance.
Should they be set and ordained to minister under the doors of the house of my Sanctuary? And to do service in the house: to slay burnt offerings and sacrifices for the people; to stand before them, and to serve them;
For the meat and drink offering shall be taken away from the house of the LORD: and the priests, the LORD's ministers, shall mourn.
Gird you, and make your moan, O ye priests: mourn ye ministers of the alter: go your way in, and sleep in sackcloth, O ye officers of my God: for the meat and drink offering shall be taken away from the house of your God.
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
for this purpose: that I should be the minister of Jesus Christ among the gentiles, and should minister the glad tidings of God, that the gentiles might be an acceptable offering, sanctified by the holy ghost.
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 Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua, and Moses went up into the hill of God,
And Aaron shall reconcile his horns once in a year, with the blood of the sin offering of reconciling: even once in the year shall he reconcile it through your generations. And so is it most holy unto the LORD."
And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And when Moses turned again in to the host, the lad Joshua, his servant, the son of Nun, departed not out of the tabernacle.
Then shall he kill the goat that is the people's sin offering, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the ox, and let him sprinkle it toward the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there here no prophet of the LORD's, that we may enquire of the LORD by him?" And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat which poured water on the hands of Elijah."
Thou makest thine angels spirits, and thy ministers a flaming fire.
And he closed the book, and gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all that were in the synagogue, were fastened on him.
And when they were come to Salamis, they showed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. And they had John to their minister.
And even for this cause pay ye tribute. For they are God's ministers, serving for the same purpose.
Ye masters do unto your servants that which is just and equal, seeing ye know that ye have also a master in heaven.