Diakonos
Diakonos
The word diakonos means “one who serves in ministry” or more generally, "servant." The word appears 29 times in the New Testament. Of those 29 times, it is translated (by the NASB) as "deacon" three times, as "minister" seven times, and as "servant" 19 times. Consequently, the best definition of the duties of a diakonos is one who ministers to the church through their service.
Considering how Paul uses the term in Phil 1:1 and in 1Tim 3, it's fair to say that he viewed diakonos as playing a leadership role in the church, albeit a lessor role compared to epsikopos or presbuteros. For example, Paul expected that the determination of who may serve as diakonos would fall to the other leaders in the church (1Tim 3:10), clearly suggesting that diakonos answer to the other two positions.
Nevertheless, diakonos are part of the leadership within a church, and they express their leadership primarily through acts of service for the benefit of the entire congregation (including other leaders). The best example of the appointment of diakonos within the church is found in Acts 6 where Stephen and six other men are appointed to positions of service by the primary leaders in that church.
Notice that several of these men eventually became evangelists themselves (e.g., Stephen, Philip), demonstrating that those who begin ministry in positions of service as diakonos are not precluded from eventually taking other roles in leadership. To summarize then, diakonos are leaders focused on service, while episkopos and prebuteros are primarily pastoral leaders over a congregation.
'ê·zer means help, aid, rescuer. It it used in referring to someone who is of equal or superior status. In the Bible “ezer” is most often used in a military context, reflecting God's strength and power.
‘êzer - עֵזֶר (Strong's #5828) Help
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‘êzer 'Help' עֵזֶר (Strong's #5828)
"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18, KJV)
The masculine noun עֵזֶר ‘êzer means "help" (Strong's #5828, x21) as in the names ‘eben-ezer "stone of help" or Ezra "help", often spelled with an א or a ה at the end (Strong's #5830/ #5833). The use of the root verb עֵזֶר ‘âzar (Strong's #5826, x82) in the Hebrew Bible extends to some 80+ occasions, generally of military aid, help and support from a position of supply or strength. The noun is also used of military aid (e.g., Isaiah 30:5; Ezekiel 12:14; Hosea 13:91). David Freedman notes that the possible root behind עֵזֶר ‘êzer may have been either ‘-z-r "to rescue, save" (as the Ugaritic) and/or ‘g-z-r meaning "to be strong". The Hebrew letter (gh)ain probably, like Arabic, having previously had two forms implying two roots that may have later got confused when just one Phoenician sign served for both letters. A survey of עֵזֶר ‘êzer's 20 or so uses reveals strong contexts and parallel terms for might or power, not ones of domestic servitude. Help is paired with shield on several occasions (Psalm 115:9-11). In over 80% of the occasions it is used, it refers to God as help. Another 3 refer to the help of man or armies. In the remaining 2 verses it refers to Adam's need of "help" in Eden, not as workforce, but as partner, as Genesis 2:20 reveals when he names all the animals but finds no "help" suitable, in this sense clearly a companion is being sought. Based on this some commentators have suggested a new translation of v18: "I will make a power/strength corresponding to/equal to man", a relationship of equals. The term "help-mate" is a mishearing of the AV phrase, "an help meet for him" and was used in Darby's 1884 translation, "a helpmate, his like". It is clear from the word's use as a superior force, whether aid, armies or the Almighty, that no sense of inferiority can be implied from the word, if anything the opposite. The LXX, Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament, uses the word βοηθοσ boêthos (Strong's #998) to translate עֵזֶר ‘êzer. Of its 45 uses, boêthos is used 42 times to refer to help from a stronger one, from a more secure or strengthened position, without need of reciprocal help. This strengthens the idea of "help" as equal or superior rather than inferior.