Chapter XXVII: Section I (3)

1. They are found in Christ's catalogue of church officers, distinct from all other officers, both extraordinary and ordinary. _Helps_, 1 Cor. xii. 28. The Greek word in the natural acceptation properly signifies, to lift over against one in taking up some burden or weight; metaphorically, it here is used for deacons, whose office it is to _help_ and _succor the poor and sick, to lend them a hand to lift them up_, &c., and this office is here distinctly laid down from all other ordinary and extraordinary offices in the text. So they are distinguished from all ordinary officers reckoned up, Rom. xii. 7, 8: under _prophecy_, there is the _teacher_ and _pastor_; under _ministry_, the _ruling elder_, and the _deacon_, verse 8. This officer was so well known, and usual in the primitive churches, that when the apostle writes to the church at Philippi, he directs his epistle not only to the saints, but to the officers, viz. _to the overseers, and deacons_, Philip, i. 1. The occasion of the first institution of this office, see in Acts vi. 1, 2, &c. At the first planting of the Christian Church, the apostles themselves took care to receive the churches' goods, and to distribute to every one of their members _as they had need_, Acts iv. 34, 35; but in the increase of the church, the burden of this care of distributing alms increasing also, upon some complaints of the Greeks, _that their widows were neglected_, the office of deacons was erected, for better provision for the poor, Acts vi. 1-7; and because the churches are never like to want poor and afflicted persons, there will be constant need of this officer. The pastor and deacon under the New Testament seem to answer the priests and Levites under the Old Testament.

2. The qualifications of deacons are laid down by Christ in the New Testament, at large: 1 Tim. iii. 8-14, _Deacons also must be grave, not double-tongued_, &c., and Acts vi. 3, 5.

3. The manner also of deacons' vocation or calling unto their office is delineated, viz: 1. They must be chosen by the church; "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report," &c., "and they chose Stephen," &c., Acts vi. 3, 5. 2. They must first be proved and tried by the officers of the church, before they may officiate as deacons; "and let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a deacon, being blameless," 1 Tim. iii. 10. 3. They must be appointed by the officers of the church to their office, and set apart with prayer, Acts vi. 3, 6: "Look ye out men--whom we may appoint over this business--whom they set before the apostles, and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

4. Deacons have by Scripture their work and employment appointed them. Their work is, _to serve tables_, (hence the name deacon seems derived,) Acts vi. 2, 3. To be an help, no hinderance in the church; called _helps_, 1 Cor. xii. 18.

5. Deacons have a divine approbation and commendation in Scripture, if they execute their office well. "For they that have used the office of a deacon well, purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus," 1 Tim. iii. 13. Here the well administration of deaconship is commended as producing two good effects to such deacons, viz: 1. _A good degree_, i.e. great honor, dignity, and reputation, both to themselves and to their office; they adorn, grace, and credit their office in the church; not that they purchase to themselves by desert a higher office in the church, that from deacons they should be advanced to be presbyters, as some would interpret this text. 2. _Much boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus._ For nothing makes a man more bold than a good conscience in the upright and faithful discharge of our duties in our callings; innocency and integrity make brave spirits; such with great confidence and boldness serve Christ and the church, being men that may be trusted to the uttermost. Now where God thus approves or commends the well managing of an office, he also divinely approves and allows the office itself, and the officer that executes the same.[92]