1 Thessalonians 3:2

Our brother. Comp. 2 Corinthians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; Philippians 1:1; Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 16:12.

Minister [δ ι α κ ο ν ο ν]. See on Matthew 20:26; Mark 9:35. Not in the official sense of deacon which occurs only in the Pastorals. Diakonov minister and diakonia ministry or service are common expressions of service to Christ or to men. Paul habitually uses them in this way. See Acts 1:25; Acts 6:4. Diakonoi is used of ministers of Satan, 2 Corinthians 11:15, and diakonov of the civil magistrate, Romans 13:4. See Introduction to the Pastoral Epistles. 23 Fellow laborer. Omit from text. 24 To establish [σ τ η ρ ι ξ α ι]. See on Luke 22:32; Introd. to Catholic Epistles, Vol. 1, p. 625; 1 Peter 5:10; 2 Peter 1:12.