Administration
Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament [1]
The word occurs in the Authorized Versionin two places, 1 Corinthians 12:5 and 2 Corinthians 9:12, in both of which the Revised Versionhas substituted ‘ministration,’ just as in 2 Corinthians 8:19 f. ‘administer’ (Authorized Version) has given place to ‘minister’ (Revised Version; Gr διακονέω). In 1 Corinthians 12:5 and 2 Corinthians 9:12 the word is the translationof Gr. διακονία which originally means ‘the service (or duty) rendered by a διάκονος,’ i.e. a servant, particularly a waiter at table (Lat. minister ), who pours out wine to the guests individually. In 1 Corinthians 12:5 the aspect, alluded to is especially that of practical service rendered to a master [including that of ‘deacon’ rendered to our ‘Lord’], whereas in 2 Corinthians 9:12 it is particularly the concrete form of that service which is intended, in its God ward and man-ward aspects.
The administration of the Roman Empire is never directly referred to in the NT, and is best considered under its various aspects (Caesar, Proconsul, etc.).
A. Souter.
King James Dictionary [2]
ADMINISTRA'TION, n.
1. The act of administering direction management government of public affairs the conducting of any office or employment. 2. The executive part of government, consisting in the exercise of the constitutional and legal powers, the general superintendence of national affairs, and the enforcement of laws. 3. The persons collectively, who are entrusted with the execution of laws, and the superintendence of public affairs the chief magistrate and his council or the council alone, as in Great Britain. 4. dispensation distribution exhibition as the administration of justice, of the sacrament, or of grace.
1 Corinthians 12 . 2 Corinthians 9 .
5. the management of the estate of an intestate person, under a commission from the proper authority. This management consists in collecting debts, paying debts and legacies, and distributing the property among the heirs. 6. The power, office or commission of an administrator.
Surrogates are authorized to grant administration.
It is more usual to say, letters of administration.
7. This name is given by the Spaniards, to the staple magazine or warehouse, at Callao, in Peru, where foreign ships must unload.
Webster's Dictionary [3]
(1): (n.) The executive part of government; the persons collectively who are intrusted with the execution of laws and the superintendence of public affairs; the chief magistrate and his cabinet or council; or the council, or ministry, alone, as in Great Britain.
(2): (n.) The act of administering; government of public affairs; the service rendered, or duties assumed, in conducting affairs; the conducting of any office or employment; direction; management.
(3): (n.) The management and disposal, under legal authority, of the estate of an intestate, or of a testator having no competent executor.
(4): (n.) The management of an estate of a deceased person by an executor, the strictly corresponding term execution not being in use.
(5): (n.) The act of administering, or tendering something to another; dispensation; as, the administration of a medicine, of an oath, of justice, or of the sacrament.
Holman Bible Dictionary [4]
1 Corinthians 12:28 kubernesis 2 Samuel 8:15 1 Kings 3:28 1 Chronicles 18:14 Jeremiah 21:12 2 Kings 10:5 1 Corinthians 12:5 diakoion
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature [5]
is an ecclesiastical term applied to the execution of the duties of the ministry. In the Episcopal Church the term is used to imply, not the persons who are intrusted with official power, nor the office itself, but the exercise and fulfilment of the functions of the office. In the Form- for the Ordering of Deacons are these words: "Almighty God, who didst inspire thine apostles to choose into the order of deacons the first martyr, Stephen, and others, mercifully behold these thy servants now called to the like office and administration," etc.
