Praying and Preaching

ἡμεῖς δὲ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου προσκαρτερήσομεν (Acts 6:4)

ἡμεῖς δὲ (hēmeis de)- But we

The particle δὲ is best taken here as adversative ("but" as in NASB, ESV, KJV) and not continuative ("and" as in NIV) as the remaining verse is in opposition to what has preceded. In other words, in marked contrast to serving at the table, the apostles would rather devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word. So while the needs of the Hellenistic Jews were important and had to be addressed, it was nonetheless subordinate to the main task of the ministry - prayer and preaching (Acts 6:2).

There is, therefore, no more pressing need to be addressed by the full-time ministers of a church than the need to attend to prayer and the preaching of the word of God. The very purpose of being set apart as a full-time minister of God is to fully devote oneself to prayer and preaching without being distracted by other matters, however legitimate they may be.

τῇ προσευχῇ (tē proseuchē) - to prayer

The dative singular noun προσευχῇ from the verb προσεύχομαι is the first of the two indirect objects of the main verb in this verse. προσευχῇ is the New Testament's common word for prayer (used around 37 times), and the underlying image is one of going to God for an exchange of wishes (εὐχή πρός τόν Θεόν). In Acts, the Jerusalem Church is described as one marked with prayer, whether it was as they were tarrying for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14), or after the church was birthed on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:42). Prayer was their primary response when faced with persecution (Acts 4:23; 12:5; 16:25), and the most imporant means by which God guided them to spread the burgeoning gospel movement (Acts 3:1; 9:11; 10:9; 16:13; 16:16; 22:17-21).

Prayer is thus the principal work of a minister, even though it should not be an end in itself. Apart from a vital communion with God, ministry descends to a mere religious work for earning one's livelihood. It is only in prayer that God births His burdens in the mind of a minister and guides him to do His will. Devoid of prayer, all that a minister does, even when it's all proper, will lack the efficacy of the Holy Spirit. Prayer should be the chief employment for a man in ministry.

καὶ τῇ διακονίᾳ τοῦ λόγου (kai tē diakonia tou logou)- and to the ministry of the word

The second dative singular noun is διακονίᾳ, which comes from the noun διάκονος or servant. Some in past have opined that the morphology of διάκονος suggests it is formed from διά, meaning "through", and κόνις, meaning "dust". The underlying picture is of someone hastening through dust and thus suggesting a servant active in running errands for a master. While the English words derived from it are often used for the diaconate and the work of deacons, in the Greek New Testament, this word does not have any such exclusive connotation. It is used both for the simple kitchen work that wearied Martha (Lk. 10:40) and also for the work of an apostle (Acts 1:25). From spiritual ministry (Acts 20:24) to mercy ministry (Acts 12:25), διακονία can refer to any form of service. Thus, in this very chapter, we have Luke using it to speak of serving food at the tables (Acts 6:2) and of the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). What is common in all these usages is the underlying picture of a servant obedient to His master in the administration of a commanded task.

The apostles, thus as servants of Christ, saw it as their sole pursuit to be obedient in the administration of the word of God. It implies knowing the word of God through prayer for the illumination of the Spirit of God, studying the word of God with prayerful dependence upon the Lord, and proclaiming the word of God with an obedient life and lips. A minister of God walking in the footsteps of the apostles' example would make it his chief purpose in ministry to be a man of the Word of God. Preaching and teaching the word of God with a view to training the people of God in righteousness would be his all-consuming passion in ministry.

Only those who ardently love the word of God and devour it in their personal walk with the Lord will ever become such ministers. All the rest, quite contrary to the apostles, would drop this pursuit of the word and would rather attend to the need of the tables. Oh, how many pastors waste all their time on meeting inferior, earthly matters of the church rather than being importunate students of Scripture. Such pastors are ready to have a gazillion useless meetings to fix the furniture or the finances of the church, but never in a million years would they ever be like those apostles who were insistent that no need in the church would cause them "to neglect the word of God" (Acts 6:2). A mere comparison of the amount of time spent in prayerful study of the word with the time spent on all other matters of the church would tell you what kind of a man you are.

προσκαρτερήσομεν (proskarterēsomen) - We will continually devote

Here we have the main verb of this verse, προσκαρτερέω, in the future indicative active form for the third person plural. The root word is formed from πρός ('towards') and καρτερέω ('show steadfast strength'). Hence, προσκαρτερέω has the connotation of 'towards steadfastly showing a strength that prevails'. In other words, it refers to devoting oneself to doing something earnestly with intense effort. This word is used by Luke in Acts to describe the manner in which the apostolic community tarried in prayer before the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:14), how the Jerusalem church was devoted to apostolic doctrine and practice (Acts 2:42), all the while maintaining their unity in the Lord (Acts 2:46). In short, it speaks of the constant eagerness and earnestness of the early church. Here in Acts 6:4, the apostles use this word to describe their work of prayer and the ministry of the word. They aimed to show steadfastness in putting intense effort to prevail both in their prayers and their preaching of the word of God.

For many in today's world, prayer and study do not look like a noble work, but a lazy hobby. Even many pastors, hence try to crowd their day with office meetings, which gives an impression of doing something important like secular work. But the apostles, with their enlightened eyes, knew that praying and preaching are the noble duties of a minister of Christ. Both require diligent work, intense effort, and steadfast endurance to be fruitful. Lazy men in love with comfort would not make any progress in these duties. Despite the difficulties, true ministers should persevere in praying and preaching if they ever want to see the work of God progress in their ministries.

Men of God, let praying and preaching be your chief employment, sole pursuit, and noble calling to which you devote yourself steadfastly. Learn to say no to all other inferior tasks which could be delegated to others who are called for such pursuits. Make it your only ambition to be a man sold out to praying and preaching. Amen.