of'-is: In the Old Testament the word is often used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. "minister .... in the priest's office," literally, act as priest (Exodus 28:1, etc.); "do the office of a midwife," literally, cause or help to give birth (Exodus 1:16). But the word is also used as a rendering of different Hebrew words, e.g. ken, "pedestal," "place" (Genesis 40:13, the King James Version "place"; Genesis 41:13); `abhodhah, "labor," "work" (1 Chronicles 6:32); pequddah, "oversight," "charge" (Psalms 109:8); ma`amadh, literally, "standing," e.g. waiting at table (1 Chronicles 23:28); mishmar, "charge," observance or service of the temple (Nehemiah 13:14 the King James Version).

Similarly in the New Testament the word is used in periphrastic renderings, e.g. priest's office (Luke 1:8-9); office of a deacon (diakonia, 1 Timothy 3:10); office of a bishop (episkope, 1 Timothy 3:1). the Revised Version (British and American) uses other renderings, e.g. "ministry" (Romans 11:13); "serve as deacons" (1 Timothy 3:10). In Acts 1:20, the Revised Version (British and American) has "office" (margin "overseership") for the King James Version "bishoprick."

T. Lewis

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

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