What Does Luke 8:3 Mean in the King James?
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The women’s resources are not separate from Jesus’ ministry: the same verb names their service and the service Jesus embodies.
THE MEANING
What belongs to Joanna, Susanna, and the others becomes part of the service sustaining Jesus. Their material means are not outside the work; they are one way it takes shape. The verse holds practical support and ministry together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that ministry belongs only to the person speaking or traveling: those who sustain him from their means are ministering too.
THE ROOT
διηκόνουν
diēkonoun
GROWS FROM
διακονέω
diakoneō
to serve or attend to another’s needs
“ministered” in this verse is diēkonoun. The verb for the women’s service belongs to the same word family as service itself and the person who serves. Their support is not incidental to the work; it is service taking material form.
ALSO GROWS
diakonia: service, ministry
διακονία
The related noun names service as a form of work, showing that what the women do is ministry in its own right.
diakonos: servant, attendant
διάκονος
The related word names the one who serves; the women’s action places them within that same pattern of service.
THE PATTERN
Service takes material form when what people possess becomes available to meet another’s need.
(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;THE THREAD
For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.Luke uses the same verb family for the women who minister to Jesus and for Jesus’ own description of himself as the one who serves. Their support belongs to the very form of service he embodies.
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