Bible Lexicons

Girdlestone's Synonyms of the Old TestamentGirdlestone's OT Synonyms

Service

With regard to the word serve or service, the LXX often keeps up a distinction which is not to be found in the Hebrew. It has both δουλεία, which is bond service, and which may be used in a religious sense or not; and λάτρεια, sacred service, a word only used in a religious sense, but not confined to the priesthood. for these two renderings the Hebrew has only one word, avad (עבד [The Assyrian replaces ebed (slave) by ardu.]), which is used of every kind of service, good and bad, whether exercised towards man, idols, or God. The distinction which is sometimes drawn between the words douleia and latreia, in connection with the worship of God and of created beings, cannot be substantiated by reference to the O.T.

The verb δουλεύω, as well as the noun δου̂λος is frequently used in the N.T. of the service due from every Christian to God and to Christ (see, for example, Colossians 3:24; 1 Thessalonians 1:9), whether that service take the form of ministry or not.

Λατρεία is used of that religious service of the Christians which consists in self-dedication to God, in Romans 12:1; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 12:28. St. Paul uses it of his own life of service in Acts 24:14; Acts 26:7; Acts 27:23; Romans 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:3. It is also used to indicate the ceaseless employment of God's servants in heaven (Revelation 7:15; Revelation 22:3).

Διάκονος (whence the word deacon) and kindred forms are used in the N.T in a general and non-technical sense of all kinds of ministry or service for the good of others. See Matthew 20:18; John 12:2; John 12:25. It is not applied to the seven so-called deacons, and only gradually grew up into a technical sense. See Philippians 1:1, and 1 Timothy 3:8; 1 Timothy 3:12.