Bible Dictionary
Minister
A minister is one who serves or attends another. In Scripture the term can describe a personal attendant, court official, priestly or Levitical servant, civil officer, or servant of Christ and the gospel.
Definition
A minister is one who serves or attends another. In Scripture the term can describe an attendant of a superior, a court official, a priestly or Levitical servant, a public administrator, a personal attendant, or a servant engaged in the ministry of the gospel.
Biblical Usage
The term is applied to Joshua and Elisha’s attendants, court servants, priests and Levites, magistrates, Christ, Paul, John Mark, and various gospel workers. Its New Testament uses include public service, personal attendance, and service in the gospel.
Historical Background
The underlying terms distinguish voluntary attendance, subordinate public administration, personal service, and assistance in religious or gospel ministry. In the synagogue, the minister attended the building, books, and officiating teacher.
Scripture References
Exodus 33:11
2 Kings 4:43
2 Chronicles 22:8
Jeremiah 33:21
Ezekiel 44:11
Ezra 7:24
Ezra 2:55-58
Nehemiah 7:57-60
Romans 13:6
Hebrews 8:2
Romans 15:16
Luke 4:20
Acts 13:5
1 Corinthians 3:5
Ephesians 6:21
Colossians 1:7
1 Thessalonians 3:2
Romans 15:8
Exodus 24:13
Joshua 1:1
1 Kings 10:5
Psalms 104:4
Ezra 8:17
Nehemiah 10:36
Isaiah 61:6
Joel 1:9
Joel 1:13
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
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 (2 Kings 4:43). This name is also given to attendants at court (2 Chr. 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jer. 33:21; Ezek. 44:11). (2.) Heb. pelah (Ezra 7:24), a “minister” of religion. Here used of that class of sanctuary servants called “Solomon’s servants” in Ezra 2:55-58 and Neh. 7:57-60. (3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Rom. 13:6). It is applied also to our Lord (Heb. 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Rom. 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 (Luke 4:20). It is applied also to John Mark, the attendant on Paul and Barnabas (Acts 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 (1 Cor. 3:5), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2), and also to Christ (Rom. 15:8).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
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, (Exodus 24:13; Joshua 1:1; 2 Kings 4:43) (2) to the attaches of a royal court, (1 Kings 10:5; 2 Chronicles 22:8) comp. Psal 104:4 (3) To the priests and Levites. (Ezra 8:17; Nehemiah 10:36; Isaiah 61:6; Ezekiel 44:11; Joel 1:9,13) One term in the New Testament betokens a subordinate public administrator, (Romans 13:6; 15:16; Hebrews 8:2) one who performs certain gratuitous public services. A second term contains the idea of actual and personal attendance upon a superior, as in (Luke 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]