αὐτο-διᾱκονέω

διακονέω (s. two next entries) impf. διηκόνουν; fut. διακονήσω; 1 aor. διηκόνησα; pf. inf. δεδιηκονηκέναι (AssMos Fgm. k, Denis p. 67); aor. pass. διηκονήθην, for augm. s. B-D-F §69, 4; W-S. §12, 6; Mlt-H. 192 (Soph., Hdt. et al.; rare in ins, pap; never in LXX, but in Philo, Joseph.) gener. to render service in a variety of ways either at someone’s behest or voluntarily and freq. with suggestion of movement.

① to function as an intermediary, act as go-between/agent, be at one’s service w. intermediary function either expressed or implied (lead tablet Sb 4947, 2 διακόνησόν μοι; in lover’s petition ‘serve as intermediary [medium] for me’ PWarr 21, 4; 8; Lucian, Cont. 1 of Hermes as messenger for Zeus; Theophr. Char. 2, 9 fetch things; Just., D. 79, 2; cp. the role of Repentance JosAs 15:7) w. dat. of pers. and acc. of thing οὐχ ἑαυτοῖς ὑμῖν δὲ διηκόνουν αὐτά they were not acting as agents in their own behalf but for yours in the things 1 Pt 1:12 (for a service consisting in the delivery of a message cp. Jos., Ant. 6, 298). For a similar contrast, and with suggestion of an intermediary’s mission: οὐκ ἦλθεν διακονηθῆναι ἀλλὰ διακονῆσαι came not to be served, but to serve Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45 (i.e. the Human One [Son of Man] came to carry out an assignment not to benefit himself but others [by giving his life in ransom]; cp. Mt 4:11; par. Mk 1:13 [service rendered by divine messengers]). Of Jesus carrying out his mission [ἀ]νῆλθε[ν δια]κονῶν AcPl BMM verso 13f.— Phlm 13 suggests that Onesimus can be used by Paul on assignment in behalf of the gospel. πορεύομαι … διακονῶν τοῖς ἁγίοις on an errand to God’s people (REB) Ro 15:25 (s. 3).—Of delivery of an object: χάρις διακονουμένη ὑφʼ ἡμῶν gift that we are transmitting (a ref. to the collection for whose delivery they have accepted responsibility) 2 Cor 8:19; cp. vs. 20. In imagery, ἐπιστολὴ Χριστοῦ διακονηθεῖσα ὑφʼ ἡμῶν a letter of Christ, delivered by us 2 Cor 3:3 (WBaird, Letters of Recommendation: JBL 80, ’61, 190).

② to perform obligations, without focus on intermediary function

ⓐ of unspecified services perform duties, render assistance, serve τινί someone (Demosth. 9, 43; UPZ 18, 23 [163 B.C.]; δαίμοσι δ. Orig., C. Cels. 2, 51, 38) Mt 8:15; Mk 1:31; Lk 4:39; GJs 6:3; διακονοῦσαι αὐτῷ being at his service Mt 27:55; cp. Mk 15:41. διακόνει μοι serve me Hs 8, 4, 1, cp. 2; J 12:26; Ac 19:22. Also εἰς ἑαυτοὺς αὐτὸ δ. serve one another w. it 1 Pt 4:10. W. acc. of thing ὅσα διηκόνησεν what services he rendered 2 Ti 1:18; cp. Hs 2:10. Abs. (POxy 275, 10 [I A.D.]) 1 Pt 4:11. Pass. (Jos., Ant. 10, 242); ἁπλῶς δ. complete a service in simplicity of heart Hm 2:6.

ⓑ of attention at meals wait on someone (τινί) at table (Menand., Fgm. 272; Pyrgion [Hellenistic times]: 467 Fgm. 1 Jac. [a communal meal in Crete]; Diod S 4, 36, 2; 5, 28, 4; Philo, Vi. Cont. 70; TestJob 12:1 al.; Jos., Ant. 11, 163; 166) Lk 12:37; 17:8. Abs. 10:40; J 12:2; GJs 6:3. In imagery ὡς ὁ διακονῶν waiter Lk 22:26f.

③ to meet an immediate need, help w. dat. (Iren. 1, pr. 3 [Harv. I 7, 1]) πότε οὐ διηκονήσαμέν σοι; when did we not help you? Mt 25:44 (but s. 4, Collins). ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων helped to support them w. their means Lk 8:3 (KTorjesen, When Women Were Priests ’93, 53ff); the saints Ro 15:25 (JO’Rourke, CBQ 29, ’67, 116–18; but s. 1); Hb 6:10.

④ to carry out official duties, minister, in cultic context (of holy service at the altar Jos., Ant. 3, 155; cp. PGM 36, 304 and 335 παρὰ θεοῖς δ.) of διάκονοι 1 Ti 3:10; καλῶς δ. vs. 13. ἀγνῶς καὶ σεμνῶς Hv 3, 5, 1. Opp. κακῶς Hs 9, 26, 2. Collins (s. below) p. 65 argues for placement of Mt 25:44 in this classification: those consigned to perdition plead their total dedication to the Lord’s interests.

⑤ Ac 6:2 poses a special problem: care for, take care of w. dat. of thing τραπέζαις look after tables can be understood of serving food at tables (cp. βούλομαι … διακονῆσαι τοῖς πτωχοῖς σήμερον ἐν τῇ σῇ τραπέζῃ TestJob 12:1), but it is improbable that some widows would be deprived of food at a communal meal. The term διακονία vs. 1 more probably refers to administrative responsibility (s. διακονία 5), one of whose aspects is concern for widows without specifying the kind of assistance that is allotted. Vs. 2 may contain wordplay involving the phrase τὸν λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ, w. λόγος designating a ledger entry, in which case τράπεζα, which is also a banker’s term (s. L-S-J-M s.v. II), may here denote accounts (s. τράπεζα 1c).—WBrandt, Dienst u. Dienen im NT ’31; ESchweizer, D. Leben des Herrn in d. Gemeinde u. ihren Diensten ’46; PBoulton, Διακονέω and Its Cognates in the 4 Gospels: TU 73, ’59, 415–22. JCollins, Diakonia ’90.—DELG s.v. διάκονος. M-M. TW.

αὐτο-διᾱκονέω,

A serve oneself, Eust.732.65.