ADMINISTER; ADMINISTRATION

ad-min'-is-ter ad-min-is-tra'-shun diakoneo, diakonia: Terms used in the King James Version in 1 Corinthians 12:5; 2 Corinthians 8:19-20; 9:12 respectively, and replaced in the Revised Version (British and American) by "minister" and "ministration." The root idea of both words is "service," hence to supply, or conduct or attend to anything; the performance of official duty, the conduct of affairs, the various forms of spiritual or social service. "Minister," used either of an act or of an office, is the term that best represents the apostolic thought and ideal.

Dwight M. Pratt

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.