I’m starting a farm that intends to donate a significant portion of our food production to people in need. I was thinking to call it something along the lines of Diakonia Farm but I’m not sure of the correct declension or if that’s even a valid use of the word. I’m basing the name on this definition:
“The ministration of those who render to others the offices of Christian affection esp. those who help meet need by either collecting or distributing of charities”
Can someone assist in finding the proper anglicized use of the Diakonia in this context?
Others may give more authoritative explanations but I have just encountered διακονία in the last few days at acts 1.16. Peter has just got up to speak to the leading activists of the as yet small group of Christians.
My rather literal translation: Brothers, it was necessary to fulfill the writings which were prophesied by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David concerning that Judas who became the guide to those that arrested Jesus since he was numbered among us and was chosen to have a share in this service(διακονίας).
Though the writer is referring to Judas’ membership of the 12 διακονία is just one among other words he could have used and he has chosen this merely to emphasize the idea of service. διακονία will eventually become Deacon implying a formal office separate from the 12 disciples/apostles that is being referred to here so. The same word is use in Acts 6.1 where it refers to the duty of giving out support to members of the community (in a context of a dispute about how fairly it was being done). So the word is being used of a person who has some responsibility of service or the exercise of that responsibility. Further it is quite a fluid word whose meaning changes with context.
So are you using the word correctly. First off, once you use it as an English word it no longer conforms to Greek grammar so simply using the nominative form is fine. Others more widely read may correct me but is seem that the word is always used to mean a human being with the duty of performing a service or that duty itself. To apply it to something inanimate like a farm would, I suspect, sound very odd to a 1st century native Greek speaker but you are not likely to encounter such a person.
If you explain to the English native speakers, who will actually ask, that the farm is so called because it is preforming a service to the community I think you will be standing on firm ground.
I learn ancient Greek and surely I am not a good speaker at all. As I was born in Greece to christian parents I suppose I could contribute by saying that the Greek Eastern Roman Church uses this term for exactly the same purpose.