λειτουργέω

3 λειτουργέω , -ῶ ( λειτουργός ), [in LXX chiefly for שׁרת pi., also for עבד , צבא , etc.;] in cl., at Athens, to supply public offices at one's own cost , render public service to the State , hence, generally, to serve the State , do a service , serve (of service to the Gods, Diod., i, 21): of the official service of priests and Levites ( Ex 29:30 , Nu 16:9 , Si 4:14 , I Mac 10:42 , al.; cf. Deiss., BS , 140 f.), He 10:11 ; of Christians: c. dat. pers. seq. ἐν , Ro 15:27 (cf. Si 10:25 ); τ. κυρίῳ , Ac 13:2 .† SYN. : λατρεύω (q.v.), prop., to serve for hire , LXX (as sometimes in cl.), always of service to the deity on the part of both priests and people ( Ex 4:3 , De 10:12 , and similarly in NT). λειτουργέω "is the fulfilment of an office: it has a definite representative character, and corresponds with a function to be discharged". It is therefore used of serving in an office or ministry: in LXX always of priests and Levites, in NT, with its cognates ( Ro 13:6 15:27 , are not really exceptions), of services rendered either to God or man by apostles, prophets, teachers, and other officers of the church (cf. Tr., Syn. , § xxxv; ICC on Ro 1:9 ; Westc., He. , 232 ff.).