Deacons and diakonia in early Christianity : the first two centuries / edited by Bart J. Koet, Edwina Murphy and Esko Ryökäs.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Koet, Bart J. (Bartholomeus Johannes), editor.

Murphy, Edwina, editor.

Ryökäs, Esko, editor.

Series:

Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. 2. Reihe ; 479.

Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament. 2. Reihe, 0340-9570 ; 479.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Eastern churches--Relations.

Eastern churches.

Relations.

Deacons.

Ecumenical movement.

Service (Theology).

Interfaith relations.

Physical Description:

xiv, 327 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Tübingen : Mohr Siebeck, [2018]

Summary:

In German-speaking countries, the role of the diaconate has been strongly influenced by nineteenth-century ideas of diakonia as service towards the poor. As important as the social initiatives stemming from this perspective have been, in order to correctly understand deacons and diakonia in the early church, we must go back to the sources. For this volume, focused on the first two centuries of Christianity, scholars from a range of backgrounds consider the use of diakonos and related words in the New Testament and extra-biblical sources, both Christian and otherwise. These texts reveal what deacons actually did, helping us to understand the past and giving guidance for the present, particularly in ecumenical discussions concerning the ministry. -- From publisher's description.

Contents:

Foreword / Munib Younan

Introduction

Assessing the Role and Function of an Assistant : the Deacon in the First Two Centuries of Christianity / Bart J. Koet, Edwina Murphy, Esko Ryökäs

How Important is the Second Leader?

Deacons and Deaconesses in the Twenty-First Century : Differences and Common Roots?

The Need for Further Research Due to New Philological Ideas

The Aim of This Collection

New Life from Old Texts

Biblical Sources

Exegetical Notes on Mark 10:42-45 : Who Serves Whom? / Peter-Ben Smit

From the Old to the New Consensus

Narrative and Contextual Observations

Conclusion

Disrupting the Consensus on Diakonia

Among "the Great Ones"

The Diakonia of "the Accursed"

Conclusion : Diakonia and Diakonie

Lexicography

Acts 6:1-7 as a Narrative about Ministry of the Word within the Book of Acts

Luke 10:38-42

Acts 6:1-7 as a Narrative about Ministry of the Word in Light of Luke 10:38-42

Conclusion : Learning and Doing in Rabbinic Judaism

Like a Royal Wedding : On the Significance of Diakonos in John 2:1-11 / Bart J. Koet

John 2:1-11 in Short

Are the Diakonoi in John 2:1-11 Humble Slaves?

Is the Diakonos a Slave?

The Diakonoi in John 2:1-11

The Diakonoi of John 2 in the Church Fathers

Philip, One of the Seven in Acts (6:1-6; 8:4-40; 21:8) / Joke H. A. Brinkhof

Seven Men Chosen

Focus on Stephen and Philip

Stephen

Philip

The Seven Profiled by Stephen and Philip

Philip, Simon, Peter, and Paul

Philip, a Relating "Deacon" and Evangelist

Conclusion : Luke Underlines the Relating Function of the Seven in the Composition of the Narrative

Introducing Phoebe

"Our Sister"

"A Benefactor of Many"

Women Ministers in the Gospels

Phoebe and Paulʼs Letter to the Romans

Was Phoebe an Official Deacon?

Paul as Apostle

Conflict over Paulʼs Preaching in Corinth

Divine Headhunting? The Function of the Qualifications of Deacons in 1 Tim 3:8-13 / Lauri Thurén

The Historical Setting

The Antagonists as Bad Deacons

The Function of the Qualifications

Particular Issues

Conclusion : "How Little, Really, We Learn"

The Earliest Christian (Extra-Biblical) Sources

Plinyʼs Tortured Ministrae : Female Deacons in the Ancient Church? / John Granger Cook

Plinyʼs Text : His Understanding of Ministrae

Lexicographical Research on Ministra

The Literary Evidence

The Inscriptional Evidence : the Cult of Bona Dea

Inscriptional Evidence : Other Cults and Associations

The Bishop and His Deacons : Ignatius of Antiochʼs View on Ministry : Two-fold or Three-fold? / Bart J. Koet

Ignatius of Antioch as the First Witness to the Threefold Ministry?

Two-fold Ministry before Ignatius of Antioch

What Do Bishops and Deacons Do and How is Their Relationship Typified?

Ignatius' Qualifications for Deacons

The Christian Culture

Clementʼs Gnostic

Modelling the Heavenly Ranks

The Deacon Title

A Heavenly Connection

A Hellenistic Cluster of Agent Diakonoi

Disciple Agents in the Model of the Teacher

Standard Greek Idiom

Conclusion : A Legacy from Clement?

First Clement as a Letter

The Structure of First Clement and the Place of 1 Clem. 40-44 within it

Isa 60:17 in 1 Clem : 42:5

Traces of Two-fold Ministry in Early Christian Literature

What Do "Deacons" Do in the Shepherd of Hermas? / Mark Grundeken

Does Hermas Testify to the Presence of "Deacons" in the Christian Communities in Rome?

Understanding the Concept of Deacon in the Didache / Clayton N. Jefford

Original or Supplemental?

Limited or Wider Implications?

Unique in Concept or Typical?

Summary and Conclusion

Justin on Deacons

Deacons in Acts of Thomas and Related Early Syriac Literature / Serafim Seppälä

Some Background Remarks

Acts of Thomas as Literature

Vocabulary : Alternatives and Solutions

Servants and Deacons in the Earliest Syriac Literature

Deacons in Acts of Thomas : the Liturgical Function

The Social Role of Deacons

Social Challenges and Communal Ideals

Female Deacons in Acts of Thomas

Deacons in the Teaching of Addai and Acts of Mar Mari

Tertullian and the Deacons / Anni Maria Laato

The Clergy and the Laity in Tertullianʼs Texts

The Offices and the Officeholders

What Did the Deacons Do and What Did They Not Do?

Dreaming about Deacons in the Passio Perpetuae / Bart J. Koet

Perpetua : Dreaming in Accordance with Scripture

Leadership in Early Christianity

Ministry in the Passio Perpetuae

Dreaming about the Clergy

Dreaming about the Deacon Pomponius

Deacons in the Texts Contemporary with the New Testament (Philo of Alexandria and Josephus) / Anssi Voitila

Philo

Josephus

Appendices

Abbreviations

Authors

Acknowledgements

Index of Ancient Sources

Index of Modern Authors.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9783161566462

3161566467

OCLC:

1086235029

Publisher Number:

99981108305

9783161566462