Administer; Administration
The Root Meaning: Service, Not Authority
The English words "administer" and "administration" in older Bible translations represent the Greek terms diakoneo (to serve) and diakonia (service or ministry). While modern English associates administration with organizational management and authority, the biblical concept is rooted in the idea of serving others. This distinction is essential for understanding how the New Testament envisions leadership and ministry within the church.
Administration as Spiritual Gift
In 1 Corinthians 12:5, Paul writes that "there are varieties of service (diakonia), but the same Lord." Here the word translated as "administration" or "ministration" in some versions refers to the diverse ways believers serve God and one another through spiritual gifts. Paul's point is that whether someone teaches, prophesies, heals, or helps, all forms of ministry flow from the same Lord and are equally valuable. No gift is superior to another because all are expressions of the same divine service.
The Administration of Generosity
Paul uses administration language extensively in 2 Corinthians 8-9, where he discusses the collection for the impoverished believers in Jerusalem. In 2 Corinthians 8:19-20, he describes being "appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being administered by us." The word "administered" here conveys the careful, accountable handling of charitable funds. Paul understood that managing resources on behalf of others was a sacred form of service that required both integrity and transparency.
In 2 Corinthians 9:12, Paul describes the collection as a "ministry" (diakonia) that not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows in thanksgiving to God. Financial generosity, properly administered, becomes an act of worship.
Jesus as the Model of Administration
The ultimate model for biblical administration is Jesus Himself, who declared, "The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). Jesus redefined greatness in terms of service (Matthew 20:26-28), washing His disciples' feet as a demonstration of the kind of leadership He expected from His followers (John 13:14-15). All biblical administration flows from this example.
Practical Administration in the Early Church
The early church demonstrated practical administration when the apostles appointed seven men to oversee the daily distribution of food to widows in Acts 6:1-6. This was administration in the fullest biblical sense: organized, accountable service that met real needs while freeing others for complementary ministry. The appointment required people "full of the Spirit and of wisdom" (Acts 6:3), showing that even practical administration demanded spiritual qualifications.
Biblical Context
The key New Testament passages using administration language include 1 Corinthians 12:5 (varieties of service), 2 Corinthians 8:19-20 (administering the charitable collection), and 2 Corinthians 9:12 (the ministry of giving). The broader concept of servant leadership permeates the Gospels (Mark 10:45; John 13:14-15) and the organization of the early church (Acts 6:1-6). Paul's letters consistently frame leadership roles as forms of service rather than positions of power.
Theological Significance
The biblical concept of administration challenges every human tendency to equate leadership with power and prestige. By grounding administration in the language of service (diakonia), Scripture teaches that all ministry, whether preaching, organizing, giving, or helping, is fundamentally an act of humble service to God and others. This vision of servant leadership flows directly from the example of Christ and shapes the New Testament understanding of spiritual gifts, church governance, and Christian character.
Historical Background
In the Greco-Roman world, the word diakonos originally referred to a table servant or someone who waited on others at meals. It carried no prestige in secular usage. The early Christians adopted this word to describe their most important activities and leaders, including Paul himself, who called himself a servant (diakonos) of Christ (Colossians 1:25). This deliberate choice of humble vocabulary reflected the radical nature of Christian leadership compared to the honor-seeking culture of the ancient world.