The diaconate in the theological considerations of the Reformers Martin Luther, Huldrych Zwingli and John Calvin

Abstract

The Reformers of the Protestant church from the XVI century, namely Luther, Zwingli and Calvin, did not pay much attention, in their theological reflections, to the identity and ministry of the deacon. According to Luther, deacons were called to dedicate their efforts and time to a ministry whose primary objective was to bring to life the Word of God in the world, not only through their words and discourses, but also through their actions. The diaconate is distinct from the ministry of the Word and is secondary to it. In Zwingli’s view, deacons, similar to the servants described in the Acts of the Apostles, form part of the ministry of the Word. Those who care for the sick, who visit them, who concern themselves with solidarity and provision for the poor, are also ministers of the Word. For Zwingli, these take on a charitable role towards society as a whole. Calvin developed a more precise understanding of the diaconate with his theory of the four ministries. He went furthest in his attempts at an institutional restoration of the ecclesial ministry of the diaconate. Calvin held the view that the diaconate required four characteristics: specific (along with other ministries, especially pastoral), permanent and consecrated, charitable and cultural.