"serving, service, waiting, attendance, the act of rendering friendly offices, Lk. 10:40; 2 Tim. 4:11; Heb. 1:14; relief, aid, Acts 6:1; 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12, 13; a commission, Acts 12:25; Rom. 15:31; a commission or ministry in the service of the Gospel, Acts 1:17, 25; 20:2..."
Definition and meaning
serving, service, waiting, attendance, the act of rendering friendly offices, Lk. 10:40; 2 Tim. 4:11; Heb. 1:14; relief, aid, Acts 6:1; 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12, 13; a commission, Acts 12:25; Rom. 15:31; a commission or ministry in the service of the Gospel, Acts 1:17, 25; 20:24; Rom. 11:13; 2 Cor. 4:1; 5:18; 1 Tim. 1:12; service in the Gospel, Acts 6:4; 21:19; 1 Cor. 16:15; 2 Cor. 6:3; 11:8; Eph. 4:12; Rev. 2:19; a function, ministry, or office in the Church, Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:5; Col. 4:17; 2 Tim. 4:5; a ministering in the conveyance of a revelation from God, 2 Cor. 3:7, 8, 9
In the original Greek the word is written: διακονία
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of diakonia (G1248) across the King James Bible.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
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Common questions
Strong's G1248 (diakonia) is a Greek word that means: serving, service, waiting, attendance, the act of rendering friendly offices, Lk. 10:40; 2 Tim. 4:11; Heb. 1:14; relief, aid, Acts 6:1; 11:29; 2 Cor. 8:4; 9:1, 12, 13; a commission, Acts 12:25; Rom. 1... It appears 32 times in the King James Bible.
The word diakonia (G1248) appears 32 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1248 is diakonia, a Greek word defined as: serving, service, waiting, attendance, the act of rendering friendly offices, Lk. 10:40; 2 Tim. 4:11; Heb. 1:14; relief, aid, Acts 6:1; 11:29; 2 Cor. . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
diakonia is a Greek word found in the New Testament.