[B-Greek] 1 Tim 3 Singular and Plural

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Thu Dec 18 13:37:22 EST 2003


> >><Doug>
> >>Can anyone tell me why EPISKOPON is singular while DIAKONOS is plural?
> >
> ><Carl>
> >Could it be because the author expects one EPISKOPOS in a
> congregation but more than one DIAKONOS?

I wouldn't think so, because in Phil 1:1 the EPISKOPOI and DIAKONOI in the
congregation in Philippi are mentioned side by side, both in plural.

> <doug>
> i just wondered whether there was some
> grammatical reason why this might be done (perhaps
> singular indicated higher importance or indicated that it
> was directed at Timothy being more specific).

Although I am not sure of the reason, my guess from NT usage is that the
singular DIAKONOS normally is used in the general sense of a
servant/minister. Paul often calls himself a DIAKONOS (or even DOULOS), even
though his church title is APOSTOLOS. The more specific sense of "deacon" is
only found in Phil 1:1 and 1 Tim 3 as far as I can see, and it is used in
the plural. The "deaconess" in Rom 16:1 is a special case where the singular
is required. Whether the sense here is the technical "deaconess" or the more
general "servant" I am not sure.
The word EPISKOPOS is far less common and in 4 out of its 5 occurrences it
seems to have the rather technical sense of "overseer" as a church function,
whether in singular or plural.

Iver Larsen




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