minister

one who serves, as distinguished from the master

5 biblical words are translated as “minister.”

1. Hebrew: meshereth

   applied to an attendant on one of superior rank, as to Joshua, the servant of Moses (Exodus 33:11), and to the servant of Elisha (2 Kings 4:43)

   This name is also given to attendants at court (2 Chronicles 22:8), and to the priests and Levites (Jeremiah 33:21; Ezek. 44:11).

2. Hebrew: 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 (Romans 13:6)

   It is applied also to our Lord (Hebrews 8:2), and to Paul in relation to Christ (Romans 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 Corinthians 3:5), Tychicus (Ephesians 6:21), Epaphras (Col. 1:7), Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2), and also to Christ (Romans 15:8)