1 Timothy 3 Part 5: Deacons & Servants

Deacon's Beginning:
(d) From the data in the NT it is possible to deduce a two-step growth process analogous to the pattern of the early church in Jerusalem. At first the apostles led the church in Jerusalem, but as it grew in size they needed help, and so seven men were appointed to serve (Acts 6:1–6), although they were not called deacons. At the end of his first missionary journey (Acts 14:23) and his preaching in Crete (Titus 1:5–9) when the churches were young, Paul appointed overseers, not deacons. But in the more established churches of Philippi (Phil 1:1) and Ephesus (1 Tim 3:8–13) there were both overseers and deacons. Perhaps the latter office developed on a church-by-church basis as the size and needs of the church increased.

-Mounce