The original Greek word for deacon is diakonos. (1Tim. 3:8). The word diakonos and it’s various forms refer to one who executes the commands of another…a servant, attendant, minister (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon) The word primarily denotes a servant, whether as doing servile work, or as an attendant rendering free service, without particular reference to its character. (Vine’s Expository Dictionary)
In our English translations of the Bible we find diakonos translated in several different ways; servant, (diakonian), (Rom. 12:6,7); ministry, (diakonian), (Col. 4:17).
In general, diakonos is a servant and applies to every Christian, John 12:26, 1Pet. 4:9,10. But there is a more specific work of deacons. We know this because Paul lists qualifications that one must meet if they are to be a deacon, (1Tim. 3:8-13). Paul also mentions the deacons as a distinct group (Phil. 1:1) .
We can conclude then that, every Christian is a deacon (diakonos) in the general sense but not every Christian is deacon (diakonos) in the more specific sense.
