to minister

Greek Verb

λειτουργέω, -ῶ (λειτουργός), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁרַת pi, also for עָבַד, צָבָא, etc;] 1) in cl, at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost, render public service to the State, hence, generally, 2) to serve the State, do a service, serve (of service to the Gods, Diod, i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites (Exo.29:30, Num.16:9, Sir.4:14, 1Ma.10:42, al; cf. Deiss, BS, 140 f.), Heb.10:11; of Christians: with dative of person(s) before ἐν, Rom.15:27 (cf. Sir.10:25); τ. κυρίῳ, Act.13:2. SYN.: λατρεύω (which see), prop, to serve for hire, LXX (as some­times in cl.), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people (Exo.4:3, Deu.10:12, and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates (Rom.13:6 15:27, are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr, Syn., § xxxv; ICC on Rom.1:9; Westc, He, 232 ff.) (AS)

to minister

Greek Verb

λειτουργ-έω, earlier Attic dialect λητουργέω [Refs 4th c.BC+], etc. (λειτ- 22.665.11 (3rd c.BC)): perfect λελειτούργηκα [Refs 5th c.BC+] I) at Athens, serve public offices at one's own cost, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. ὑπέρ τινος serve these offices for another, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὰ λελειτουργημένα public services performed, [Refs 4th c.BC+] II) generally, perform public duties, serve the state, τῇ πόλει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. τῇ πόλει ταύτην τὴν λειτουργίαν[Refs 4th c.BC+] III) generally, serve a master, with dative, οἱ ἑνὶ λειτουργοῦντες τὰ τοιαῦτα δοῦλοι [εἰσι] [Refs 4th c.BC+]; λ. τρισὶν ἀνδράσιν, of a prostitute, [Refs] III.2) perform religious service, minister, ἐπὶ τῶν ἱερῶν [NT+1st c.BC+]

Greek

Verb

to be a public servant, i.e. (by analogy) to perform religious or charitable functions (worship, obey, relieve); minister; from g3011 (λειτουργός)