Fondazione biblica del ministero apostolico del diaconato permanente

Abstract

The present exegetical enquiry about Phil 1,1; 1 Tim 3,8-13 and Acts 6,1-6 brings to light how in the early Church the deacons have arisen as subordinated collaborators with the Apostles and their successors. In the «diaconal» horizon of the whole Church, conformed by the Spirit to Christ, the servant of God and of the men (Phil 2,6-7), the diaconal ministry included three types of functions: the preaching the word of God, various activities of charity and the administration of the baptism.