Deacon's Concerns About Elder's Biblical Decision Making
The office of deacon emerged in the early church as a role subordinate to that of elder, with distinct responsibilities centered on practical service rather than governance. The Greek term diakonos means "runner," "messenger," or "servant," and the office appears in the New Testament as "the correlative of bishop" [2]. Paul addresses both offices together in Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy 3, where he outlines qualifications for each [2]. The narrative in Acts 6, though not explicitly using the term "deacon," describes the apostles appointing seven men to handle the daily distribution to widows, freeing the apostles for prayer and the ministry of the word [1, 2]. This pattern established deacons as "the young active men" who assisted the bishops or elders [2].
The Deacon's Subordinate Role
Early Christian teaching consistently placed deacons under the authority of elders. The Apostolic Constitutions instructs that "the deacon is to ease the burden of the bishops, and to order the smaller matters himself" [4], emphasizing that deacons handle administrative and charitable work while elders bear responsibility for teaching and governance. Calvin similarly notes that both deacons and elders must be "of sound doctrine and holy lives, and not notorious for any defect which might destroy their authority" [5], but he distinguishes their functions within the church's structure.
When a deacon perceives an elder making unbiblical decisions, the hierarchical relationship creates tension. Scripture provides no direct instruction for deacons confronting elders, though it does record instances where younger or subordinate figures challenged authority—sometimes rightly, sometimes wrongly. Rehoboam "forsook the counsel of the elders which they advised him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him" [3], a decision that split the kingdom. Conversely, Elihu in Job waited respectfully before speaking, acknowledging "I am young, and therefore I was afraid, and durst not show you my opinion" [6], yet ultimately offered correction that proved valuable.
The deacon's concern must be weighed carefully. If an elder's decision contradicts clear biblical teaching or violates established doctrine, the matter may require escalation to the broader eldership or congregation, following principles of church discipline. If the disagreement concerns prudential judgment rather than doctrinal error, humility and deference to the elder's office remain appropriate. The deacon serves the church by supporting its leadership, not by assuming authority that belongs to another office.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Deacon — Anglicized form of the Greek word diaconos, meaning a "runner," "messenger," "servant." For a long period a feeling of mutual jealousy had existed between the "Hebrews," or Jews proper, who spoke the sacred language of palestine, and the "Hellenists," or Jews of the Grecian speech, who had adopted the Grecian language, and read the Septuagint version of the Bible instead of the Hebrew. This jealousy early appeared in the Christian community. It was alleged by the Hellenists that their widows were overlooked in the daily distribution of alms. This spirit must”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Deacon — The office described by this title appears in the New Testament as the correlative of bishop. [[420]Bishop] The two are mentioned together in (Philemon 1:1; 1 Timothy 3:2,8) Its original meaning implied a helper, an assistant. The bishops were the "elders," the deacons the young active men, of the church. The narrative of Acts 6 is commonly referred to as giving an account of the institution of this office. The apostles, in order to meet the complaints of the Hellenistic Jews that their widows were neglected in the daily ministration, call on the body of beli”
- I Kings “I Kings 12:8 (LITV) — But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they advised him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, who were standing before him.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 7: Lactantius, Venantius, Asterius, Victorinus, Dionysius — THAT THE DEACON IS TO EASE THE BURTHEN OF THE BISHOPS, AND TO ORDER THE SMALLER MATTERS HIMSELF.: XLIV. Be ye of one mind, O ye bishops, one with another, and be at peace with one another; sympathize with one another, love the brethren, and feed the people with care; with one consent teach those that are under you to be of the same sentiments and to be of the same opinions about the same matters, "that there may be no schisms among you; that ye may be one body and one spirit, perfectly joined together in the same mind and in t”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 85: this is the first of the four heads which I mentioned, let us now proceed to it. 12. What persons should be elected bishops is treated at length by Paul in two passages ( Tit. 1:7 ; 1 Tim. 3:1 ). The substance is, that none are to be chosen save those who are of sound doctrine and holy lives, and not notorious for any defect which might destroy their authority and bring disgrace on the ministry. The description of deacons and elders is entirely similar (see chapter 4 sec. 10-13). We must always take care that they are not unfit for”
- Job (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Job 32:6: Elihu here appears to have been, I. A man of great modesty and humility. Though a young man, and a man of abilities, yet not pert, and confident, and assuming: his face shone, and, like Moses, he did not know it, which made it shine so much the brighter. Let it be observed by all, especially by young people, as worthy their imitation, 1. What a diffidence he had of himself and of his own judgment (Job 32:6): "I am young, and therefore I was afraid, and durst not show you my opinion, for fear I should either prove mistaken or do that which was unbecoming me." He was s”