SERVICE (עֲבֹדָה, H6275; διακονία, G1355). Other Heb. words are rendered “service.” So are three other Gr. words: δουλεύω, G1526, to be a slave, to do service (Eph 6:7); to render religious service (John 16:2); λειτουργίας, priestly, charitable, liturgical service (2 Cor 9:12). The predominently Biblical concepts of service are of a religious nature, though some references are made to secular service.

1. Secular service. The first reference concerns Jacob’s service to Laban for his wives (Gen 30:26-29). The next concerns Joseph’s “service of Pharaoh” (Gen 41:46). After that is the well-known record of Egypt’s oppression of the Israelites, making “their lives bitter with hard service” (Exod 1:14). Reminiscent of this, Moses provided laws prohibiting intra-Israelite slavery and governing hired servants (Lev 25:52). Another type of service was military (Num 4:30, 35, 39, 43; 31:14; 2 Tim 2:4). Paul refers to the service of a slave (1 Tim 6:2). A beautiful example of domestic service was that of Martha serving tables (Luke 10:40; John 12:2).

2. Ritual service. Of the two religious types of service the oldest is worship, associated with priesthood, Tabernacle, altar, and Temple. The OT contains numerous references to this type of service. Moses instituted the Passover as a memorial service (Exod 12:25ff.; 13:5). The census tax was to go for worship in the meeting place (30:16). Moses ordained the Levites “for the service of the Lord” (32:29). From them were to come priests, responsible “for the service of the house of the Lord” (1 Chron 23:32; cf. Num 8:11, 15), and they were “to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting” (Num 8:19; cf. 8:24-26; 16:9; 18:4-6, 21-23, 31). This priestly service reached a noble climax with Zechariah (Luke 1:23). Not only was the act of worship called “service,” as it is today, but so were “utensils for the service of the tabernacle” (Exod 39:40).

3. Spiritual service. As revelation progressed, service acquired a new and broader meaning. Service required horizontal action. “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve” (Matt 20:28), and thereby set an example for His followers. He set the example in life, death, and drama (John 13:3-17). He said, “If any one serves me, he must follow me...the Father will honor him” (12:26). Early Christians soon grasped Jesus’ concept of total religious service, including evangelism and missions. Paul said, “there are varieties of service” (1 Cor 12:5). He thanked Jesus Christ for “appointing me to this service” (1 Tim 1:12), and was proud of fellow workers in this service (2 Cor 8:23). Appropriately, the highest order of church laity are called deacons, from the Gr. diakonous (1 Tim 3:8-13).

Bibliography E. Russell, “Chapel Talks” (1935), 211f.; W. L. Poteat, “Youth and Culture” (1938), 43-47.