I was in Rome one time and we went to eat some Italian food. Our servant came to take our order. We could not decide on what we wanted and in just a few seconds the waiter told us in no uncertain terms what we were going to eat and then he walked off. There was no rebuttal and we just looked at each other in dismay. I remember thinking that the servant had no idea what the idea of serving was. He was supposed to be serving us but he usurped his authority.
It is interesting that in our text, Luke begins to write an account of the things that have been accomplished from the eyewitnesses and ministers of the word (Luke 1:1-4). I like the term “minister of the word.” People often ask me why I use this term as my title. I like it because of the word minister. In Luke 1:2, the Greek word for minister is ὑπηρέτης (hypēretēs – assistant/minister/servant), so I am a “servant” of the word. It is a compound word from ὑπό (“sub” or “under”) and ἐρέτης (“rower”) and thus according to its etymology means something like “sub rower.”
In Greek Mythology, we have this word used to describe Hermes as the “messenger” (ὑπηρέτης) of the gods. His responsibility was to execute the will of Zeus. In military terms it refers to the person that carried the shields or weapons of a warrior and was ready to obey whatever command given. It is also used as the immediate aides of a commander. Plato used the word for the officer whose job it is to supervise the provisioning of the troops. In civil life the physician has his servant who not only assists him but also carries out minor medical tasks on the doctor’s instructions. Judges had someone to carry out their sentences, even executing those condemned to death. The New Testament always uses it in the more general sense of assistant or servant (of someone in a higher position). Thus, I am a servant of something greater than myself. I like the word “minister” because it always reminds me to be careful, like Luke, to vigilantly make an orderly account of my lessons and sermons. Why? I am a “sub rower” of God’s word. It must guide me and not the other way around. God’s word brings certainty to all that we have been taught. It is our responsibility not to be like my Italian servant that tells me what I will eat. In other words, we don’t tell God what we want to hear. We listen to what God tells us in His word and we are ministers/servants/assistants that go and tell others.
Sources: Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990-). Vol. 3: Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament (400). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans. & Vol. 8: Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964- (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (530–531). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.