Jesus Christ was a Deacon

The Greek word diakonos means "one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, minister." 

I have substituted an alternate translation for diakonon in Romans 15:8.

Rom 15:8 NKJV – Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a deacon (διακονον – diakonon – servant) to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,....

The substitution seems inappropriate but at the same time appropriate.  I will come back to that point.

The KJV translates diakonos as minister 20 times, servant 8 times, and deacon 3 times.  When I look over the texts, I wonder: why did the translators need three different words?  I think the word servant would have been appropriate for all instances.

The Oxford American Dictionary definitions for minister and deacon follow:

minister
noun
1 (also minister of religion) a member of the clergy, esp. in Protestant churches.
• (also minister general) the superior of some religious orders.
2 (in certain countries) a head of a government department : Britain's defense minister.
• a diplomatic agent, usually ranking below an ambassador, representing a state or sovereign in a foreign country.

deacon
noun
(in Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox churches) an ordained minister of an order ranking below that of priest.
• (in some Protestant churches) a lay officer appointed to assist a minister, esp. in secular affairs.

Wikipedia has a long article about the "office" of the deacon:

The diaconate is one of the major orders in the Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches. The other major orders are those of bishop and presbyter/priest.

We humans seem to have a way of taking words from the Bible and twisting them to mean something other than what they were intended to mean.  A servant is a "person who performs duties for others."  It is clearly someone of lower social status who does work that is considered menial.  It is a role without prestige.  When we use words in our Bible translations that no longer have their intended meaning, we lose the point that was intended.  When Jesus washed the disciples feet he was being a servant— not a minister or deacon as we now use (or abuse) the words.

The picture of an Orthodox Deacon below is from the Wikipedia article.   It isn't my intention to pick on any religious group— I think we all suffer from a similar condition.  We simply don't want to be servants in the sense that Jesus intended.

Following are some example verses that use the word diakonos.  Notice how many of the early examples use the word in the original sense— as a servant to someone of superior rank.  Somehow, the later examples describing the work of the believers have transformed the servants into "ministers" or "deacons."  These words once meant a servant, but they no longer carry the right sense of lowliness.  When Jesus said servant he meant a lowly worker of menial tasks— not an office or an order or a leadership role.

Jesus is our example.  He served us.   He was a deacon in the true sense of the word.

Esth 1:10 Brenton Septuagint – Now on the seventh day the king, being merry, told Aman, and Bazan, and Tharrha, and Barazi, and Zatholtha, and Abataza, and Tharaba, the seven chamberlains, servants (διακονοις – diakonois) of king Artaxerxes, ...

Esth 2:2 Brenton Septuagint – Then the servants (διακονοι – diakonoi) of the king said, Let there be sought for the king chaste and beautiful young virgins. 

Matt 20:26 NET – It must not be this way among you! Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant (διακονος – diakonos), 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave (δουλος – doulos)–

Matt 22:13 NET – Then the king said to his attendants (διακονοις – diakonois), ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’

Matt 23:11 NET – The greatest among you will be your servant (διακονος – diakonos). 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Mark 9:35 NET – After he sat down, he called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant (διακονος – diakonos) of all.”

Mark 10:43 NET – But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant (diakonos – diakonos), 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave (δουλος – doulos) of all.

John 2:5 NET – His mother told the servants (διακονοις – diakonois), “Whatever he tells you, do it.”

John 2:9 NET – When the head steward tasted the water that had been turned to wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants (διακονοι – diakonoi) who had drawn the water knew), he called the bridegroom

John 12:26 NET – If anyone wants to serve (διακονη – diakone) me, he must follow me, and where I am, my servant (διακονος – diakonos) will be too. If anyone serves (διακονη – diakone) me, the Father will honor him.

Was Phoebe a deacon (or a deaconess) or a minister or simply someone who served her fellow believers.

Rom 16:1 NET – Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant (διακονον – diakonon) of the church in Cenchrea,

1 Cor 3:5 NET – What is Apollos, really? Or what is Paul? Servants (διακονοι – diakonoi) through whom you came to believe, and each of us in the ministry the Lord gave us.  /  NKJV: ministers

Eph 3:7 NET – I became a servant (διακονος – diakonos) of this gospel according to the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power.  /  NKJV: minister

Eph 6:21 NET – Tychicus, my dear brother and faithful servant (διακονος – diakonos) in the Lord, will make everything known to you, so that you too may know about my circumstances, how I am doing.  /  NKJV: minister

Phil 1:1 NET – From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the overseers and deacons (διακονοις – diakonois).

Col 1:7 NET – You learned the gospel from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave–a faithful minister (διακονος – diakonos) of Christ on our behalf–

Col 1:23 NET – if indeed you remain in the faith, established and firm, without shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard. This gospel has also been preached in all creation under heaven, and I, Paul, have become its servant (διακονος – diakonos).  /  NKJV: minister

Col 1:25 NET – I became a servant (διακονος – diakonos) of the church according to the stewardship from God—given to me for you—in order to complete the word of God,  / NKJV: minister

Col 4:7 Tychicus, a dear brother, faithful minister (διακονος – diakonos), and fellow slave in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me.

1 Thess 3:2 NET – We sent Timothy, our brother and fellow worker (διακονον – diakonon) for God in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen you and encourage you about your faith,  / NKJV: minister

1 Tim 3:8 NET – Deacons (διακονους – diakonous) likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,

1 Tim 3:12 NET – Deacons (διακονοι – diakonoi) must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.

1 Tim 4:6 NET – By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good servant (διακονος – diakonos) of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.