Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of the Bible, the term "office" refers to a position of authority or responsibility, often within a religious or governmental framework. The concept of office is integral to understanding the structure and function of leadership and service in both the Old and New Testaments.
Old TestamentIn the Old Testament, the idea of office is closely associated with the roles of priests, prophets, and kings. Each of these offices carried specific duties and responsibilities ordained by God.
1.
Priestly Office: The priestly office was established by God through the line of Aaron, the brother of Moses. Priests were responsible for performing sacrifices, maintaining the sanctuary, and teaching the Law. The Book of Leviticus outlines the duties and qualifications for the priestly office. In
Numbers 18:7, God says, "But only you and your sons may serve as priests in connection with everything at the altar and inside the curtain. I am giving you the priesthood as a gift."
2.
Prophetic Office: Prophets served as God's spokespeople, delivering His messages to the people of Israel. The prophetic office was not hereditary but was based on divine calling. Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel played crucial roles in guiding and correcting the nation. In
Deuteronomy 18:18, God promises, "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him."
3.
Royal Office: The office of the king was established with Saul, the first king of Israel, and later with David, whose lineage was promised an everlasting kingdom. Kings were expected to lead the people in accordance with God's laws. In
1 Samuel 10:1, Samuel anoints Saul, saying, "Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?"
New TestamentIn the New Testament, the concept of office expands to include roles within the early Church, such as apostles, elders, and deacons.
1.
Apostolic Office: The apostles were chosen by Jesus Christ to be His primary witnesses and to lay the foundation of the Church. The office of apostle carried unique authority, as seen in
Acts 1:24-25, where the apostles pray for guidance in selecting a replacement for Judas: "Show us which of these two You have chosen to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place."
2.
Elders and Overseers: Elders, also known as overseers or bishops, were appointed to shepherd and oversee the local congregations. Their qualifications and duties are outlined in passages such as
1 Timothy 3:1-7 and
Titus 1:5-9. In
1 Timothy 3:1, Paul writes, "This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task."
3.
Deacons: The office of deacon was established to serve the practical needs of the Church, allowing the apostles to focus on prayer and the ministry of the word. The qualifications for deacons are detailed in
1 Timothy 3:8-13.
Acts 6:3 describes the selection of the first deacons: "Therefore, brothers, select from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty."
Spiritual Gifts and OfficesThe New Testament also speaks of spiritual gifts that correspond to various offices within the Church. In
Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul writes, "And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works of ministry, to build up the body of Christ."
ConclusionThe concept of office in the Bible underscores the importance of divinely appointed roles and responsibilities in both religious and civic life. These offices are designed to maintain order, provide leadership, and facilitate the worship and service of God among His people.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) That which a person does, either voluntarily or by appointment, for, or with reference to, others; customary duty, or a duty that arises from the relations of man to man; as, kind offices, pious offices.
2. (n.) A special duty, trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position of trust or authority; as, an executive or judicial office; a municipal office.
3. (n.) A charge or trust, of a sacred nature, conferred by God himself; as, the office of a priest under the old dispensation, and that of the apostles in the new.
4. (n.) That which is performed, intended, or assigned to be done, by a particular thing, or that which anything is fitted to perform; a function; -- answering to duty in intelligent beings.
5. (n.) The place where a particular kind of business or service for others is transacted; a house or apartment in which public officers and others transact business; as, the register's office; a lawyer's office.
6. (n.) The company or corporation, or persons collectively, whose place of business is in an office; as, I have notified the office.
7. (n.) The apartments or outhouses in which the domestics discharge the duties attached to the service of a house, as kitchens, pantries, stables, etc.
8. (n.) Any service other than that of ordination and the Mass; any prescribed religious service.
9. (v. t.) To perform, as the duties of an office; to discharge.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
OFFICEof'-is: In the Old Testament the word is often used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. "minister.... in the priest's office," literally, act as priest (Exodus 28:1, etc.); "do the office of a midwife," literally, cause or help to give birth (Exodus 1:16). But the word is also used as a rendering of different Hebrew words, e.g. ken, "pedestal," "place" (Genesis 40:13, the King James Version "place";Genesis 41:13); `abhodhah, "labor," "work" (1 Chronicles 6:32); pequddah, "oversight," "charge" (Psalm 109:8); ma`amadh, literally, "standing," e.g. waiting at table (1 Chronicles 23:28); mishmar, "charge," observance or service of the temple (Nehemiah 13:14 the King James Version).
Similarly in the New Testament the word is used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. priest's office (Luke 1:8, 9); office of a deacon (diakonia,1 Timothy 3:10); office of a bishop (episkope,1 Timothy 3:1). the Revised Version (British and American) uses other renderings, e.g. "ministry" (Romans 11:13); "serve as deacons" (1 Timothy 3:10). InActs 1:20, the Revised Version (British and American) has "office" (margin "overseership") for the King James Version "bishoprick."
T. Lewis
Greek
5058. telonion -- taxoffice... tax
office. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: telonion Phonetic Spelling:
(tel-o'-nee-on) Short Definition: a tax-collector's
office Definition: a
...4465. rhabdouchos -- a rod holder, ie (a Roman) lictor (one...
... a rod holder, ie (a Roman) lictor (one holding the rod ofoffice). Part of Speech:
Noun, Masculine Transliteration: rhabdouchos Phonetic Spelling: (hrab-doo...
2405. hierateia -- priesthood
... Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hierateia Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-at-i'-ah) Short
Definition: the duty of a priest Definition: the duty (office) of a priest...
1984. episkope -- a visiting, an overseeing
... Word Origin from episkeptomai Definition a visiting, an overseeing NASB Word Usage
office (1),office of overseer (1), visitation (2). theoffice of a bishop....
2420. hierosune -- priesthood
... Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: hierosune Phonetic Spelling:
(hee-er-o-soo'-nay) Short Definition: the priestlyoffice Definition: the abstract...
1248. diakonia -- service, ministry
... support (1). administration,office, service. From diakonos; attendance (as
a servant, etc.); figuratively (eleemosynary) aid, (official...
1247. diakoneo -- to serve, minister
... waited (3). administer, serve, use theoffice of a deacon. From diakonos;
to be an attendant, ie Wait upon (menially or as a host...
2406. hierateuma -- a priesthood
... a priesthood. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: hierateuma Phonetic
Spelling: (hee-er-at'-yoo-mah) Short Definition: the act oroffice of priesthood...
4234. praxis -- a deed, function
... deed,office, work. From prasso; practice, ie (concretely) an act; by extension,
a function -- deed,office, work. see GREEK prasso. (praxei) -- 1 Occurrence....
2407. hierateuo -- to be a priest
... perform priestly service. Prolongation from hiereus; to be a priest, ie Perform
his functions -- execute the priest'soffice. see GREEK hiereus....
Strong's Hebrew
4612. maamad --office, function, service... maamad. 4613 .
office, function, service. Transliteration: maamad Phonetic Spelling:
(mah-am-awd') Short Definition: attendance.
... attendance,
office, place, state
...3653b. ken -- a base, pedestal,office
... 3653a, 3653b. ken. 3654 . a base, pedestal,office. Transliteration:
ken Short Definition: stand. Word Origin from an unused word...
6415. pelilah --office of judge or umpire
... 6414, 6415. pelilah. 6416 .office of judge or umpire. Transliteration: pelilah
Phonetic Spelling: (pel-ee-law') Short Definition: decision....
3547. kahan -- to act as a priest
... 2), serving as priests (1). deck, be do theoffice of a, execute the, minister
in the priest'soffice. A primitive root, apparently...
5656. abodah -- labor, service
... Usage bondage (4), construction (2), construction work (1), job (2), kind of service
(2), labor (9), laborious (12), labors (1), ministry (2),office (1), rite...
4929. mishmar -- place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch...
... services (1). diligence, guard,office, prison, ward, watch. From shamar;
a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a deposit (fig...
6486. pequddah -- oversight, mustering, visitation, store
... store NASB Word Usage administrators (1), affairs (1), appointed (1), care (1),
class (1), executioners (1), fate (1), muster (2),office (1), officers (1...
6496. paqid -- commissioner, deputy, overseer
... overseers (3). which had the charge, governor,office, overseer, that was set.
From paqad; a superintendent (civil, military or religious...
530. emunah -- firmness, steadfastness, fidelity
... steady (1), trust (2), truth (5). faithful setoffice, stability, steady,
truly, truth, verily. ); or (shortened) >emunah {em-oo-naw...
4673. matstsab -- standing place, station, garrison
... Word Origin from natsab Definition standing place, station, garrison NASB Word Usage
garrison (8),office (1), place where (1), place* (1), standing (2), where...
Library
From theOffice for Baptism
... MEDITATIONS From theOffice for Baptism. tr., John Brownlie 8.8.8.8. From the
Office for Baptism. I. Bear to the font the child of grace,....
A Translation of the Legenda in theOffice Prepared for the...
... A TRANSLATION OF THE LEGENDA IN THEOFFICE PREPARED FOR THE BLESSED HERMIT
RICHARD. Theoffice of Saint Richard, hermit, after he...
TheOffice of the Instructor.
... The Instructor: Book I Chapter I. TheOffice of the Instructor. As there
are these three things in the case of man, habits, actions...
On the PropheticalOffice of Christ
... DISPUTATION XXXVI ON THE PROPHETICALOFFICE OF CHRIST. The propheticaloffice
of Christ comes under consideration in two views " either...
Whether it is Lawful to Desire theOffice of a Bishop?
... OF THINGS PERTAINING TO THE EPISCOPAL STATE (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether it
is lawful to desire theoffice of a bishop? Objection 1: It...
On the RegalOffice of Christ
... DISPUTATION XXXVII ON THE REGALOFFICE OF CHRIST. As Christ, when consecrated
by his sufferings, was made the author of salvation...
On the PriestlyOffice of Christ
... DISPUTATION XXXV ON THE PRIESTLYOFFICE OF CHRIST.... V. In the priesthood of Christ,
must be considered the preparation for theoffice, and the discharge of it....
Christ's KinglyOffice
... 5. The covenant of grace and its mediator 5. Christ's KinglyOffice. Q-26:
HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THEOFFICE OF A KING? A: In subduing...
Christ's PriestlyOffice
... 5. The covenant of grace and its mediator 4. Christ's PriestlyOffice.
Q-35: HOW DOES CHRIST EXECUTE THEOFFICE OF A PRIEST? A: In...
The MinisterialOffice
... Third Series Sermon 115 The MinisterialOffice.... 3. In ancient times theoffice of
a Priest and that of a Preacher were known to be entirely distinct....
Thesaurus
Office (64 Occurrences)... trust, charge, or position, conferred by authority and for a public purpose; a position
of trust or authority; as, an executive or judicial
office; a municipal
...Tax-office (3 Occurrences)
Tax-office. Taxing, Tax-office. Teach . Multi-Version Concordance
Tax-office (3 Occurrences). Matthew 9:9 And Jesus, passing...
Elder (34 Occurrences)
... Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect
and reverence (Genesis 50:7). It also denoted a politicaloffice (Numbers 22...
Annas (4 Occurrences)
... In AD 25 Caiaphas, who had married the daughter of Annas (John 18:13), was raised
to thatoffice, and probably Annas was now made president of the Sanhedrim...
Ordination (12 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) The act of setting apart to anoffice in the Christian ministry; the conferring
of holy orders. 3. (n.) Disposition; arrangement; order. Int....
Ordain (13 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To set apart for anoffice; to appoint. 4. (vt) To invest with
ministerial or sacerdotal functions; to introduce into the...
Consecrate (65 Occurrences)
... as to the service of God. 3. (vt) To set apart to a sacredoffice; as,
to consecrate a bishop. 4. (vt) To canonize; to exalt to...
Discharge (30 Occurrences)
... to acquit; to clear. 4. (vt) To relieve of anoffice or employment; to send
away from service; to dismiss. 5. (vt) To release legally...
Cupbearer (10 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah filled thisoffice to the king of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11).... 1. (n.) One whose
office it is to fill and hand the cups at an entertainment....
Stephen (13 Occurrences)
... church, so his name is connected with an important new departure within the
organization of the church itself, namely, the institution of theoffice of the...
Resources
Does the Bible teach the office of pastor? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian run for political office? | GotQuestions.orgIs God restoring the offices of apostle and prophet in the church today? | GotQuestions.orgOffice: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
