The Definition of the word Minister

Minister

One who serves, as distinguished from the master. (1.) Heb. "meshereth, applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as" "to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Ex. 33:11), and to the servant" of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43). This name is also given to attendants "at court (2 Chr. 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jer." 33:21; Ezek. 44:11). "(2.) Heb. pelah (Ezra 7:24), a "minister" of religion. Here used "of that class of sanctuary servants called "Solomon's servants" in Ezra 2:55-58 and Neh. 7:57-60. "(3.) Greek leitourgos, a subordinate public administrator, and in this sense applied to magistrates (Rom. 13:6). It is applied "also to our Lord (Heb. 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ" (Rom. 15:16). "(4.) Greek hyperetes (literally, "under-rower"), a personal "attendant on a superior, thus of the person who waited on the" officiating priest in the synagogue (Luke 4:20). It is applied "also to John Mark, the attendant on Paul and Barnabas (Acts" 13:5). "(5.) Greek diaconos, usually a subordinate officer or assistant "employed in relation to the ministry of the gospel, as to Paul" "and Apollos (1 Cor. 3:5), Tychicus (Eph. 6:21), Epaphras (Col." "1:7), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2), and also to Christ (Rom. 15:8)."