SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:7
o ministerio, en servir; o el que enseña, en doctrina;
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Romans 12:7
Verse 7. Or ministry] diakonia simply means the office of a deacon; and what this office was, see in the note on Acts vi. 4, where the subject is largely discussed. Or he that teacheth] The teacher, didaskalov, was a person whose office it was to instruct others, who thereby catechizing, or simply explaining the grand truths of Christianity.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 7. Or ministry, [let us wait] on our ministry , etc..] The word diakonia sometimes signifies the whole ecclesiastical ministry, even the office of apostleship, as well as the ordinary ministration of the Gospel; (see Acts 1:17 6:4); but here “deaconship”, or the office of ministering to the poor saints, as in ( Acts 6:1 1 Corinthians 16:15), being a distinct office from prophesying: or preaching the word, and should be used, exercised, and attended to with diligence, care, and constancy; for such who are appointed to this office, are chosen not only to a place of honour, but of service and business, in which they should behave with prudence, sobriety, and humility: or he that teacheth, on teaching . The gift of prophesying or preaching is subdivided into “teaching” and “exhorting”; the one belongs to “teachers” or doctors, the other to “pastors”; as the distinction is in ( Ephesians 4:11), not that different officers and offices are intended, but different branches of the same office; and one man's talent may lie more in the one, and another man's in the other; and accordingly each should in his preaching attend to the gift which is most peculiar to him: if his gift lies in teaching, let him constantly employ himself in that with all sobriety and “teaching” does not design an office in the school, but in the church; it is not teaching divinity as men teach logic, rhetoric, and other arts and sciences, in the schools; but an instructing of churches and the members thereof in the doctrines of the Gospel, in order to establish and build them up in their most holy faith; (see 1 Corinthians 12:28 Ephesians 4:11,12); it chiefly lies in a doctrinal way of preaching, in opening, explaining, and defending the doctrines of Christ, as distinct from the practical part of the ministry of the word, and the administration of ordinances, in which the pastor is employed as well as in this.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-8 - Pride is a sin in us by nature; we need to be cautioned and arme against it. All the saints make up one body in Christ, who is the Hea of the body, and the common Centre of their unity. In the spiritual body, some are fitted for and called to one sort of work; others for another sort of work. We are to do all the good we can, one to another and for the common benefit. If we duly thought about the powers we have, and how far we fail properly to improve them, it would humble us But as we must not be proud of our talents, so we must take heed lest under a pretence of humility and self-denial, we are slothful in layin out ourselves for the good of others. We must not say, I am nothing therefore I will sit still, and do nothing; but, I am nothing in myself, and therefore I will lay out myself to the utmost, in the strength of the grace of Christ. Whatever our gifts or situations ma be, let us try to employ ourselves humbly, diligently, cheerfully, an in simplicity; not seeking our own credit or profit, but the good of many, for this world and that which is to come.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειτε 1535 CONJ διακονιαν 1248 N-ASF εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF διακονια 1248 N-DSF ειτε 1535 CONJ ο 3588 T-NSM διδασκων 1321 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF διδασκαλια 1319 N-DSF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
7. Ministering (diakonia). Let us wait on is supplied. Lit., or ministry in our ministry. The word appears in the New Testament always in connection with the service of the Christian Church, except Luke x. 40, of Martha's serving; Heb. i. 14, of the ministry of angels, and 2 Corinthians iii. 7, of the ministry of Moses. Within this limit it is used, 1. Of service in general, including all forms of christian ministration tending to the good of the christian body (1 Cor. xii. 5; Eph. iv. 13; 2 Timothy iv. 11). Hence, 2. Of the apostolic office and its administration; (a) generally (Acts xx. 24; 2 Cor. iv. 1; 1 Tim. i. 12); or (b) defined as a ministry of reconciliation, of the word, of the Spirit, of righteousness (2 Cor. v. 18; Acts vi. 4; 2 Cor. iii. 8, 9). It is not used of the specific office of a deacon; but the kindred word diakonov occurs in that sense (Philip. i. 1; 1 Tim. iii. 8, 12). As the word is employed in connection with both the higher and lower ministrations in the Church (see Acts vi. 1, 4), it is difficult to fix its precise meaning here; yet as it is distinguished here from prophecy, exhortation, and teaching, it may refer to some more practical, and, possibly, minor form of ministry. Moule says: "Almost any work other than that of inspired utterance or miracle-working may be included in it here." So Godet: "An activity of a practical nature exerted in action, not in word." Some limit it to the office of deacon.Teaching. Aimed at the understanding.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
12:7 {Let us give ourselves}. There is no verb in the Greek. We must supply d"men heautous or some such phrase. {Or he that teacheth} (eite ho didaskwn). Here the construction changes and no longer do we have the accusative case like diakonian (general word for Christian service of all kinds including ministers and deacons) as the object of econtes, but the nominative articular participle. A new verb must be supplied of which ho didask"n is the subject as with the succeeding participles through verse #8. Perhaps in each instance the verb is to be repeated from the participle like didasket" here (let him teach) or a general term poieitw (let him do it) can be used for all of them as seems necessary before "with liberality" in verse #8 (en haplotˆti, in simplicity, for which word, see #Mt 6:22; 2Co 8:2; 9:11,13). {He that ruleth} (ho proistamenos). "The one standing in front" for which see #1Th 5:12. {With diligence} (en spoudˆi). "In haste" as if in earnest (#Mr 6:25; 2Co 7:11f., 8:8,16), from speudw, to hasten. Again verse #11. {With cheerfulness} (en hilarotˆti). Late word, only here in N.T., from hilaros (#2Co 9:7) cheerful, hilarious.
