2. The verb. — The verb ' to mind ' is used in- transitively, in the sense of to intend or purpose, in Ac 20'» (Gr. MAXpi-Tfs, RV 'intending'). With the same signification 'to be minded' occurs in Ac 27^» (Gr. /SoiiXetrflai), v." (TR ^ovXeOtaOai, WH Pov\e<r8a.i). More frequently 'to mind' (Gr. tppov- etf) is found in the transitive sense of ' to think about,' 'to direct one's mind to' (Ro 8', Ph S'"- ">). Sometimes 4>povelv is translated 'to be minded,' and in such cases the phrase is equivalent in meaning to the transitive verb (Gal 5'", Ph 3'^). The parti- ciple ' minded ' is met with in the AV in a number of phrases— ' likeminded ' (Ro 15^ Ph 2=), 'feeble- minded' (1 Th 5'*), ' doubleminded ' (Ja 1» 4»), 'highminded' (Ro 11=», 1 Ti 6", 2 Ti 3<), 'sober- minded' (Tit 2''), which are represented in the original by various verbs and adjectives. For 'carnally minded' and 'spiritually minded' in Ro 8^ (rb ippdv-rjua t^s irapKds . . . roO irvevfiaTot) should be substituted as in the RV ' the mind of the flesh,' ' the mind of the spirit.'
Literature.— Grimm-Thayer, Greek-Eng. Lex. of the A'T^, 1890, s.v. .-oCs; H. Cremer, Bib.-Theol. Lex. of NT Greek-', 1880, p. 436 ff. ; J. Laidlaw, The Bible Doctrine of Man, 1896, p. 123 ff. ; B. Weiss, Biblical Theology 0/ the NT, Eng. tr., 1882-83, i. 476 1. ; BDB, art. ' Mind.' J. C. LAMBERT.
MINISTER, MINISTRY In discussing these
two terms we hiive to consider six groups of Greek words which occur in the Bible in connexion with ministering or serving. They run in triplets, each triplet consisting of a concrete noun, an abstract noun, and a verb — 'minister,' 'ministry,' and 'to minister.' These six groups are — SidKoj-os, SmKoi/fa, BitiKovuv ; SoOXos, Soi'Xeia, SovXe^iLV ; vir-qpir-qs, lyir-qp- cfffa], vTrripereXv ; [Xdrpts], Xarpefa, \aTp(v£iv ; Xecroi'/rytis, Xetroi'p^ta, \€iTovpyeiv ; Oepd-jnoy, Bepaweia^ Bepa-weveLV. All these are found in the NT excepting inr-npeaia, which occurs in the LXX in Job and Wisdom, and Xdrpis, which occurs only in the enlarged text of Job 2'. With regard to nearly all of them it will be found that both the AV and the RV use diflerent English words to translate the same Greek word, while different Greek words are sometimes translated by the same English word. This could hardly be avoided without doing injustice to the meaning of various passages. In all languages words have diflerent shades of meaning, and in some cases the same word has two or more very difi'erent meanings ; there are very many instances of this in the Greek of the NT.
The fact that we have no less than six sets of words to express the idea of 'minister' and ' ministry ' is strong evidence that there was as yet no regular organization of ministers with distinct titles indicating specific duties. This im- pression is confirmed when we find that English translators are unable to reserve a separate English word for each of the diflerent (Jreek words. Evi- dently these diflerent Greek terms do not each represent a class of officials ; but individuals who undertake work of a similar character are called by the same name. On the other hand, the name varies, without there being in all cases a correspond-
30S203
38
MINISTER, MINISTRY
MINISTER, MINISTRY
ing ehanse of meaning. The same person, from somi'what dill'erent points of view, iniglit bear four or live of tlie six names ; and even from tlie same point of view might bear more than one of them. In the earliest congregations of Christians it was soon found that some individuals had certain gifts, and they exercised these gifts for the good olf the congregation. Such useful persons were distin- guished by words already in use for similar services. At a later time, when the Christian ministry became organized, some of tliese words acquired a technical meaning and designated Church officers with specific duties. It will be useful to exhibit the diversity of translation somewhat in detail.
SiaKofos is found in Mt., Mk. , and Jn., in all four groups of the Pauline Epistles, and nowhere else in the NT. In the Gospels it is rendered ' servant,' in the Epistles ' minister,' except Ph 1' andl Ti 3*- '^ where it is rendered 'deacon.' SmKovla occurs in Ac. and in all groups of the Pauline Epistles, except 1 and 2 Th. ; elsewhere thrice. The usual transla- tion is 'ministry'; but we have 'ministration' (2 Co 3'- s- 9 9'3), ' ministering ' (2 Co 8^ 9'), ' relief ' (Ac 11-"), 'serving' (Lk 10"), also 'service' and 'administration.' The RV changes ' ministry ' to 'service' (1 Ti 1'^), 'service' to ' ministry' (Rev 2'*), 'ministry' to 'ministering' (Eph 4'-, 2 Ti 4"), 'ministry' to 'ministration' (2 Co 6'), and 'adminis- tration ' to ' ministration ' (2 Co 9'-). SiaKovilv is always 'to minister' in Mt. and Mk., always ' to serve' in Jn., and nearly always ' to minister' in the Epistles : in Lk. and Ac. both translations are used — ■' to serve' most frequently. The RV changes 'administer' to 'minister' (2 Co 8"- ^°), and 'use the office of a deacon ' to ' serve as deacons ' (1 Ti S'"- '^). XeiToup7(5s is rendered ' minister ' in nearly all places ; XciTovfyyia is ' ministration ' in Lk., ' service ' in Ph., and ' ministry ' in Heb. ; XeiTovpyetv is always ' to minister.' The translations of vv-qpirris vary between 'attendant,' 'minister,' 'officer,' and 'servant.' The RV changes ' minister ' to ' attendant ' (Lk 4-°, Ac 1 3"), and ' servant ' to ' officer ' ( Mk 14=^^). m-qpiT- elv is ' to serve ' (Ac 13^^) and ' to minister ' (Ac 20** 24^). These instances of variations in rendering the same word may suffice. The difl'erent shades of meaning between the groups of Greek words are of more importance ; but the fact that ' minister ' and ' servant,' with their cognates, appear in the translations of so many of the groups is evidence that the meanings frequently overlap.