service
diakonia denotes work entrusted to someone, including ministry, practical care, and service carried out for others.
The dominant attested use is an entrusted ministry or assigned work, received, fulfilled, or carried out in connection with proclamation, reconciliation, or the building up of others. It also names practical provision for fellow believers and, in several contexts, service as an activity or quality among varied works.
Senses in use
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Entrusted ministry or assigned work · dominant
The noun names a charge that can be received and completed: in Acts 20:24 the APB renders a ministry received from the Lord Jesus and joined to testimony about the gospel, while in 2 Timothy 4:5 it is something to fulfill. In Acts 1:17 and Colossians 4:17, the clause likewise presents it as a share or assignment that a person has received.
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Practical provision for fellow believers · common
In Acts 6:1, the dative singular occurs in the clause about widows being neglected in the daily provision. In 2 Corinthians 9:12, the nominative singular identifies an activity that supplies the needs of the saints and overflows in thanksgivings; Acts 11:29 and Romans 15:31 place the same noun in contexts of relief and a contribution directed toward Jerusalem.
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Service as activity or recognized quality · occasional
The plural genitive in 1 Corinthians 12:5 occurs in a statement about varieties of such activities under the same Lord. In Luke 10:40, the accusative singular stands in the clause about Martha being distracted by much work, while Revelation 2:19 lists it alongside works, love, faith, and perseverance.
In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the noun with “ministry” or “service,” and in provision contexts describes relief or supplying needs. Those English expressions indicate the verse-level presentation rather than fixed translations of each occurrence.