Sacred Service: Τίμων (Strong’s G5096: Timon) Models Early Church Ministry

Strong’s G5096: A proper noun meaning “honorable” or “esteemed,” derived from τιμή (honor). One of the seven chosen to serve tables in Acts, representing the early church’s commitment to practical ministry and inclusive community care.

U- Unveiling the Word

Τίμων embodies the spirit of service and honor in the early church. As one of the seven chosen to manage the daily distribution to widows, his name reflects the honorable nature of practical ministry. His selection alongside others with Greek names represents the early church’s commitment to inclusive leadership and care for all members. The early church saw in this name and role a model for combining spiritual maturity with practical service. Today, it continues to remind believers that practical ministry carries divine honor and that serving others is a worthy expression of faith.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Τίμων, Timon, /TI-mōn/
• Detailed pronunciation: TEE-mohn (emphasis on TEE)
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• From τιμή (time) – “honor” or “value”
• -ων (-on) – personal name suffix
• Combined to form a name meaning “honorable one”

D – Defining Meanings

• Honorable one
• Esteemed one
• One who values/honors

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but derived from τιμή with personal name suffix

Translation Options:

• “Timon” – Direct transliteration
• “The honored one” – Translation of meaning
• “Worthy one” – Alternative meaning translation

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Στέφανος (Stephanos) /STE-fa-nos/ – another of the seven. See G4736
• Νικόλαος (Nikolaos) /ni-KO-la-os/ – also one of the seven. See G3532
• Παρμενᾶς (Parmenas) /par-ME-nas/ – fellow server. See G3937

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a Proper Noun:

• Case: Nominative/Genitive/Dative/Accusative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: Third

Case forms:

• Nominative: Τίμων
• Genitive: Τίμωνος
• Dative: Τίμωνι
• Accusative: Τίμωνα

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes Τίμων’s role among the seven chosen for practical ministry. Thayer’s notes the name’s connection to concepts of honor. LSJ documents its use as a common Greek name. Vine’s highlights its appearance in the context of early church organization. Strong’s connects it to fundamental concepts of worth and honor. Moulton and Milligan provide evidence of its use in Hellenistic society. The synthesis reveals a name that reflected both Greek cultural integration and the dignity of practical service in the early church.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and [Timon] [Τίμων], and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” Acts 6:5

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Plutarch: Lives	“[Timon] [Τίμων] served as archon in Athens with distinction.”
Diogenes Laertius: Lives	“The philosopher [Timon] [Τίμων] wrote skeptical treatises.”
Athenaeus: Deipnosophistae	“[Timon] [Τίμων] was known for his hospitality to strangers.”

N – Noteworthy Summary

Τίμων appears in Scripture at a crucial moment of church organization and inclusive ministry. This name proclaims the good news that in King Jesus’s kingdom, practical service carries divine honor. His selection among the seven demonstrates how the early church valued both Greek and Jewish believers, showing that the Gospel breaks down cultural barriers while elevating service to others as a worthy expression of faith.

D – Did You Know?

1. The name was common among both Greeks and Hellenistic Jews.
2. Timon’s selection helped bridge cultural divisions in the early church.
3. Early church tradition suggests he later served as a bishop.

Strong’s G5096: A proper noun meaning “honorable” or “esteemed,” derived from τιμή (honor). One of the seven chosen to serve tables in Acts, representing the early church’s commitment to practical ministry and inclusive community care.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: names, service, ministry, deacons, early church, Greek culture, inclusivity, practical ministry, honor, leadership, community care, unity​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​