The main problem that led to the appointment of the seven deacons centred around discrimination against the Hellenists in the early church. This problem threatened to bring disunity into the early church hence the need to find a solution to it.
In this WAEC Christian Religious Studies tutorial, I will show you the salient points to mention in your answer to a WASSCE CRS question on this topic.
Here is an example:
a. What problems led to the appointment of the seven deacons?
b. Explain three problems that the church faces today.
Now you can have all the points you need for a high-quality essay on the appointment of the seven deacons.
Purpose for the Appointment of the Seven Deacons
The purpose of the selection of the seven deacons as recounted in Acts 6:1-15 was threefold.
First, the seven deacons were chosen as a means to address the grievances of the Greek-speaking members of the early church. This was the primary reason for the appointment of the seven deacons.
Secondly, it was meant to restore unity within the rank and file of the early church.
Lastly, the apostles appointed the seven deacons to facilitate the growth and expansion of the church.
We are now going to directly address the question about the circumstances that led to the appointment of the seven deacons. See below the broad outline of an essay on the problems that led to the appointment of the seven deacons
How the Seven Deacons Were Appointed
The number of members of the early church kept growing. But as the church saw an expansion in its membership, many problems cropped up.
These were challenges the disciples had never dealt with before. There was, therefore, the need to find innovative ways to address these problems facing the early church.
Among the problems that faced the early church after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus was the pervasive discrimination against the Greek-speaking members also known as the Hellenists.
The Hellenists complained against the Hebrews that in the daily arrangement for the care and welfare of the poor, their own widows were being neglected.
The Hebrews were the Aramaic-speaking Jews. The complaint meant that the Hebrews were receiving preferential treatment.
Meaning of ‘Hellenists’
‘Hellenists’ was a term that referred to Greek-speaking (Grecian) Jews who were either born outside Palestine or settled outside Palestine. Put differently, the Hellenistic Jews were Jews from regions of Greek culture. They were Jews or proselytes (see definition of ‘proselyte’ below) who were not locals and spoke Greek rather than the local language of the Jews.
The Meaning of ‘Hebrews’
‘Hebrews’, on the other hand, were indigenous inhabitants of Palestine. This is to say the Hebrews were people born and bred inside Palestine. They spoke Aramaic as their mother tongue.
The Apostles’ Response to the Challenge
The twelve apostles called a meeting of all the disciples to discuss and resolve the issue.
At the meeting, the apostles stressed their commitment to the work of preaching the gospel. This was what they said:
‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.’
There was, therefore, the need to appoint some members to assume the duty of seeing to the proper distribution of welfare among the members.
Consequently, a recommendation was made for the appointment of the seven deacons. They would be responsible for this important duty.
The 3 Qualities of the Seven Deacons
The seven deacons ought to be reputable, filled with the Holy Spirit, and wise men.
This recommendation pleased the whole assembly. Below is the complete list of the names of the seven deacons.
The Seven Deacons
- Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit. This explains why Stephen was chosen among the seven deacons.
- Phillip
- Prochorus
- Nicanor
- Timon
- Parmenas
- Nicholas, a proselyte from Antioch
- PLEASE NOTE: A proselyte is a Gentile convert to Judaism.
Commissioning of the Seven Deacons
The apostles prayed over them and laid their hands upon them. The above seven men were, therefore, the first ever deacons in the bible and in the church.
The laying of hands was significant. It signifies the consecration or commissioning of an individual through the release of God’s power and blessing upon him. Thus, the gesture prepared the seven deacons for the task of performing God’s work
This gesture set them apart for the specific work of distributing welfare.
Effects of the Appointment of the Seven Deacons
The appointment of the Seven Deacons had far-reaching positive effects on the church in its infancy.
The notable positive effects of the appointment of the seven deacons are the following.
- It quickly restored unity in the congregation. The Hellenists felt satisfied that their grievances had been dealt with.
- Membership of the church increased greatly in Jerusalem. Some Jewish priests joined the early church.
- It established the post of ‘Deacon’ in the church up to today. The term ‘Deacon’ means ‘one who serves.’
Thus, the deacons had the additional function of being Jesus’ witnesses just like all other Christians.
Similar Problems Facing the Church Today
The problems that faced the early church have persisted up to today. Churches have to grapple with the following problems on a regular basis.
- Selfish leadership
- Incompetent leadership
- Undemocratic selection of leaders
- Greedy leaders and members whose only interest is in amassing material wealth
- Discrimination against minorities and the underprivileged
- Doctrinal differences that undermine unity
- Widespread immoral practices in the congregation
- Corrupt leaders who embezzle and misappropriate church funds
Final Thoughts
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