one who attends or waits on another; so we find Elisha was the
minister of Elijah, and did him services of various kinds, 2 Kings iii,
11. So Joshua was the servant of Moses, Exod. xxiv, 13; xxxiii, 11. And
these persons did not by any means feel themselves degraded by their
stations, but in due time they succeeded to the offices of their
masters. In like manner John Mark was minister to Paul and Barnabas,
Acts xiii, 5. Christ is called a minister of the true, that is, the
heavenly, sanctuary. The minister of the synagogue was appointed to keep
the book of the law, to observe that those who read it, read it
correctly, &c, Luke iv, 20. The rabbins say he was the same as the angel
of the church, or overseer. Lightfoot says, Baal Aruch expounds the
_chazan_, or minister of the congregation, by _sheliach hatzibbor_, or
angel of the congregation; and from this common platform and
constitution of the synagogue, we may observe the Apostle’s expression
of some elders ruling and labouring in word and doctrine, others in the
general affairs of the synagogue. Ministers were servants, yet servants
not menial, but honourable; those who explain the word, and conduct the
service of God; those who dispense the laws and promote the welfare of
the community; the holy angels who in obedience to the divine commands
protect, preserve, succour, and benefit the godly, are all ministers,
beneficial ministers, to those who are under their charge, Heb. viii, 2;
Exod. xxx, 10; Lev. xvi, 15; 1 Cor. iv, 1; Romans xiii, 6; Psalm civ, 4.
minister of Elijah, and did him services of various kinds, 2 Kings iii,
11. So Joshua was the servant of Moses, Exod. xxiv, 13; xxxiii, 11. And
these persons did not by any means feel themselves degraded by their
stations, but in due time they succeeded to the offices of their
masters. In like manner John Mark was minister to Paul and Barnabas,
Acts xiii, 5. Christ is called a minister of the true, that is, the
heavenly, sanctuary. The minister of the synagogue was appointed to keep
the book of the law, to observe that those who read it, read it
correctly, &c, Luke iv, 20. The rabbins say he was the same as the angel
of the church, or overseer. Lightfoot says, Baal Aruch expounds the
_chazan_, or minister of the congregation, by _sheliach hatzibbor_, or
angel of the congregation; and from this common platform and
constitution of the synagogue, we may observe the Apostle’s expression
of some elders ruling and labouring in word and doctrine, others in the
general affairs of the synagogue. Ministers were servants, yet servants
not menial, but honourable; those who explain the word, and conduct the
service of God; those who dispense the laws and promote the welfare of
the community; the holy angels who in obedience to the divine commands
protect, preserve, succour, and benefit the godly, are all ministers,
beneficial ministers, to those who are under their charge, Heb. viii, 2;
Exod. xxx, 10; Lev. xvi, 15; 1 Cor. iv, 1; Romans xiii, 6; Psalm civ, 4.