Steward
Steward
Steward in English may be taken to represent two Greek words, and , the former being rather steward of an estate (as in Mat 20:8 and Luk 8:3; see W. A. Becker, Charicles, Eng. translation , London, 1895, p. 363), and the latter of a household. , however, occurs only once in the NT outside the Gospels, and there it is joined with : [while still , an infant] (sub tutoribus et actoribus [Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] ] Gal 4:2); this Lightfoot in his commentary translates under controllers of his person and property, taking as the boys legal representatives (so Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] ) and as stewards or bailiffs to manage either his household or his property. No doubt was often used as a general term for one who acted in either capacity.
The first instance we adduce is that of a public official: , Rom 16:23 (arcarius civitatis [Vulg. [Note: Vulgate.] ]). The city here is apparently Corinth, where St. Paul was at the time of writing (the Erastus mentioned in Act 19:22 as a messenger of the Apostle from Asia to Macedonia can hardly be the same person; and even the one mentioned in 2Ti 4:20 as still at Corinth is perhaps more likely to be the same as the latter than the former). The office held by Erastus was doubtless that of city treasurer or something similar; cf. 1Es 4:47; 1Es 4:49, where the same title occurs. All the other instances of and are in the Epistles and occur by way of comparison or simile.
(1) General, with further description: (= ), , (I have to bear in mind that I am charged with a stewardship and must carry it out) (1Co 9:17). In 1Co 4:2, , the faithfulness of stewards in general is spoken of; but the phrase follows directly upon a special kind of stewardship ( ).
(2) Special: stewards of God, acting for Him: , Tit 1:7; Col 1:25; , 1Ti 1:4 (here the sphere in which, or rather the method by which, stewardship is rightly exercised is added [sc. by faith]).
(3) Stewards with the matter of stewardship described [sc. of grace, of mystery, or of mysteries): , , 1Pe 4:10; , Eph 3:2; , 1Co 4:1; (v.l. [Note: .l. varia lectio, variant reading.] , ) Eph 3:9.
(4) One very curious extension of the use of the word occurs in Eph 1:10, , which is well paraphrased and explained by W. Alexander (Speakers Commentary, London, 1881, in loc.): The dispensation is the Divine arrangement of His household, or plan of government, which was to be carried out when the full time had come, which time had now arrived. Here the idea of stewardship almost disappears, as it is the Masters own management that is referred to.
C. L. Feltce.
Fuente: Dictionary of the Apostolic Church
Steward
(, sar, usually rendered prince; , ), one who manages the affairs or superintends these household of another, as Eliezer of Damascus did that of Abraham (Gen 15:2). Great confidence was reposed in those who held such an office, and hence Paul describes Christian ministers as the stewards of God over his Church and family (Tit 1:7). Believers also are described as stewards of God’s gifts and graces, to dispense the benefits of them to the world (1Pe 4:10). Our Lord frequently uses the responsibilities belonging to the office of a steward for the purpose of illustrating his reasoning. In the parable of the unjust steward, who defrauds his master by collusion with the debtors (Luke 16), the illustration is confined to the policy of the conduct pursued, and no inference can be drawn respecting its moral propriety. (On the proverbial dishonesty of modern Oriental wakkils or agents of this kind, see Thomson, Land and Book, 1, 517 sq.) The exhortation which follows is merely advice to manage worldly goods with such liberality and generosity as will promote the cause of true piety, Christian charity, and enlightened benevolence, and not to exercise the rights of property too harshly. See the monographs on this passage cited by Danz, Wrterb. s.v. Lucas, Nos. 76-93.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Steward (2)
one who manages the domestic concerns of a family, religious house, or episcopal estate. Called also SENESCHAL SEE SENESCHAL (q.v.).
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
Steward (3)
a Church officer among the Methodists.
1. Methodist Episcopal –The number of stewards on each charge varies from three to nine. They are nominated by the preacher in charge, but the Quarterly Conference has the right of affirmation or rejection. They hold office for one year, subject to reappointment, and by virtue of their office are members of the Quarterly Conference. They should be men of solid piety, who both know and love the Methodist doctrine and discipline, and of good natural and acquired abilities to transact the temporal business. Their duties are thus defined: To take an exact account of all the money or other provision collected for the support of preachers, and apply the same as the Discipline directs; to make an accurate return of every expenditure of money, whether to the preachers, the sick, or the poor; to seek the needy and distressed in order to relieve and comfort them; to inform the preachers of any sick or disorderly persons; to tell the preachers what they think wrong in them; to attend the quarterly meetings, and the leaders’ and stewards’ meetings; to give advice, if asked, in planning the circuit; to attend committees for the application of money to churches; to give counsel in matters of arbitration; to provide elements for the Lord’s supper; to write circular letters to the societies in the circuit to be more liberal, if need be; as also to let them know, when occasion requires, the state of the temporal concerns at the last quarterly meeting. One of them is the district steward, who represents his individual Church in the district stewards’ meeting; another the recording steward, who makes and preserves the records of the Church. The stewards are amenable to the Quarterly Conference, which has power to dismiss or change them. In the division of the labor between stewards and trustees, the former attend to all the current expenses of the Church for ministerial and benevolent purposes; the latter to all the financial interests connected with the Church property. They have no right to incur any debt which is binding on the property of the Church; and hence it is their duty to complete their collections, and to meet their obligations annually.
2. English Wesleyan. In this connection the office of steward embraces four departments, viz. circuit, society, poor, and chapel stewards. They are usually appointed at the December quarterly meeting; the society and poor stewards at the first leaders’ meeting in January. Their term of office ceases at the end of the year; but they are eligible for reelection for three years successively.
(1.) The duties of the circuit stewards are:
1. To examine at each quarterly meeting the books of the society stewards, and receive moneys raised for support of the ministry.
2. To pay each circuit preacher the allowance due him.
3. To meet all demands for house rent, taxes, etc., and provide suitable furnished homes for the preachers.
4. To keep the accounts of the circuit; to transmit each quarter to the district treasurer of the Children’s Fund whatever moneys may be due from the circuit to that fund, or to receive from him what the circuit is entitled to.
5. To attend, during the transaction of monetary business, the sittings of both the annual and financial district meetings.
6. To act as the official channel through which the communications from the circuit are transmitted to the Conference.
7. To audit, in conjunction with the superintendent minister, the accounts of all trust estates in the circuit that are settled on the provisions of the Model Deed.
8. To take the initiative in the invitation of ministers for the ensuing year.
(2.) Duties of the Society Steward.
1. With the ministers and leaders, to promote the spiritual and temporal interests of the societies.
2. To attend the leaders’ and quarterly meetings, and receive and pay over moneys for support of ministers.
3. To provide for The taking of collections.
4. To attend to the supply of the pulpit, and prepare or sign notices intended for announcement from the pulpit; to prepare for the sacrament of baptism, and, in case there is no poor-steward, the Lord’s supper and love feasts.
5. To provide, when necessary, a suitable home for the preacher who officiates.
(3.) Duties of the Poor-Stewards.
1. To attend the leaders’ meetings, and pay out, as sanctioned by them, the poor moneys.
2. To furnish the minister with the names of sick and poor members.
3. To provide for the Lord’s supper and for love feasts.
4. To keep an accurate account of all receipts and disbursements in reference to the fund.
(4.) Chapel Stewards are appointed by the trustees, in conjunction with the superintendent of the circuit, and on them devolves the general oversight of the chapel and furniture, its cleaning, warming lighting, etc.; to direct the movements of the sexton and pay his salary, and attend meetings of the trustees. See Discipline of the M.E. Church; Simpson, Cyclop. of Methodism, s.v.
Fuente: Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
STEWARD
In New Testament times the word steward was usually used of the person appointed to look after a masters household or business. This position of responsibility meant that on the one hand stewards had control over the servants under them, but on the other they were answerable to the master for the way they carried out their responsibilities. It was essential, therefore, that stewards be trustworthy (Luk 12:42; Luk 16:1-2; 1Co 4:2; cf. Gen 15:2; Genesis 24).
Christians are Gods stewards, appointed by him to look after his interests in the world. This applies to their responsibilities in looking after the material things God has given them, and to their responsibilities in preaching the gospel and caring for Gods people. They are answerable to God for the way they carry out these responsibilities (Gen 1:28-30; 1Co 4:1-5; 1Co 9:17; Col 1:25; 1Th 2:4; 2Ti 1:14; 2Ti 2:15; 1Pe 4:10). (See also GIVING; SERVANT; WORK.)
Fuente: Bridgeway Bible Dictionary
Steward
STEWARD.This term is found six times in AV [Note: Authorized Version.] of OT. It is applied to Eliezer in Gen 15:2, where RV [Note: Revised Version.] rightly tr. [Note: translate or translation.] he that shall he possessor of my house. In Gen 43:19; Gen 44:1-4 Josephs steward (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] and RV [Note: Revised Version.] ) is lit. he who was over his house (cf. Gen 43:16, 1Ki 16:19 in RV [Note: Revised Version.] ). In 1Ch 28:1 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] stewards is tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of Heb. srm (lit. princes, RV [Note: Revised Version.] rulers). For the steward of Dan 1:11; Dan 1:18 (RV [Note: Revised Version.] ), see Melzar.
The NT terms are (1) epitropos, steward in Mat 20:8, Luk 8:3; also translated in Gal 4:2 AV [Note: Authorized Version.] tutors, RV [Note: Revised Version.] guardians. (2) oikonomos, the usual term, found both literally and metaphorically, as is also the cognate noun oikonomia stewardship. The latter is used literally in Luk 16:2; Luk 16:8; Luk 16:4, and metaphorically in 1Co 9:17, Eph 3:2, Col 1:25, 1Ti 1:4 [in last three dispensation, RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] stewardship].
W. F. Boyd.
Fuente: Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible
Steward
stuerd ( , ‘sh al bayith (Gen 43:16, Gen 43:19; Gen 44:1; 1Ki 16:9), , ha-melcar (Dan 1:11), , ha-sokhen (Isa 22:15)):
1. Old Testament Usage:
In the King James Version the word steward is found in Gen 15:2; 1Ch 28:1, in addition to the above. The American Standard Revised Version renders Gen 15:2 as possessor, and 1Ch 28:1 rulers.
The phrase ben-meshek in Gen 15:2 is best rendered son of acquisition, hence, heir. But this is disputed. Skinner in the ICC on Gen regards the text as hopelessly corrupt, and offers no solution of the difficulty. In the other passages, the phrase ‘sh al bayith is conveniently translated steward, though literally it is man over the house. The word ha-melcar in Dan 1:11 is translated in the King James Version as a proper noun. This is certainly a mistake. The margin gives the steward, and this is followed in the Revised Version (British and American). A better rendering perhaps would be overseer, as this man seemed to have the superintendence of the training and feeding of the young men until they were fitted to enter the king’s service. He was thus rather a steward of persons than of property (see MELZAR). In Isa 22:15 Shebna is described in the text as treasurer, but in the margin as steward, and seems to combine the ideas in both the words treasurer and steward. Shebna was thus one of the highest officials, having charge of the city’s funds, and of administering them for the city’s benefit.
Though the word for steward occurs but once in that sense, the idea is one familiar to the Old Testament. Eliezer of Damascus was Abraham’s slave and trusted steward. Heseems to have had the oversight of all his affairs and was entrusted with the important duty of getting a wife for Isaac. He apparently had charge over the family of his master as well as his property. Whether Isaac had such a steward or not is nowhere stated, but it is practically certain that he had. Jacob seems to have been Laban’s steward for a time, as he apparently had full charge of the flocks and herds of his master. Joseph was practically Potiphar’s steward, and when he became Pharaoh’s chief minister, he himself had a steward over his own house (Gen 39:4, Gen 39:5; Gen 44:1, Gen 44:4). The king Elah in his brief reign of two years had a steward in charge of his household (1Ki 16:9). The same was doubtless true of all the kings, and it may be safely inferred that every household of distinction or of sufficient wealth had a steward in charge. The functions of this officer seem at times to have included the care of the children or minors, as well as of the property. Sometimes he was a slave, sometimes a freedman.
2. In the New Testament:
, eptropos, , oikonomos. These two terms denote similar positions. The exact difference cannot be clearly defined, as they are sometimes almost synonymous. The two are found together in Gal 4:2. Some scholars say they are used synonymously, others that the first word is a more general term including the latter. Lightfoot and Ellicott think that the former refers rather to the guardianship of persons, the child’s legal representative, while the latter word refers to the head servant appointed to manage the household or property (compare 2 Macc 11:1; 13:2). There would, however, not be any such hard-and-fast line between their respective duties; these might vary with every master, or might be combined in one individual.
(1) In the Gospels.
The idea seems to have been perfectly familiar to the people in Christ’s day. Every household of distinction seems to have had a steward in charge, Herod’s steward was named Chuzas, and his wife, Joanna, followed and ministered to Jesus (Luk 8:3). The word epitropos used here is held by some scholars to imply that he had charge of the education of Herod’s children. This is very probable but not certain. In the parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, it is the steward who pays the laborers at the close of the day (Mat 20:8). The parable of the Unjust Steward best illustrates the practice. This steward was a freeman, had full charge of his master’s affairs and could use them to his own advantage if he chose, was fully accountable to his master and had to render an account when called upon. If unfaithful he was usually discharged at once (Luk 16:1-13). The parables of the Minae or Pounds (Lk 19:12-27), the Talents (Mt 25:14-30), and the Wicked Husbandmen (Mat 21:33-46) teach similar truths. In His warning to His disciples Jesus seems to imply that they were to act as stewards in His absence (Luk 12:42). According to this passage a steward’s task was to manage all the affairs of his master, attend to receipts and expenditures, and portion out to each one of the household what should come to him. The disciples were left thus in charge of His gospel and were to use this gift to the best advantage in behalf of others until His return. In Joh 2:8 the term ruler is given in the margin as steward. The one referred to here was really director of the feast rather than steward, though in a sense charged with the responsibility of conducting it. Many stewards were no doubt slaves, as is implied in Mat 24:45, while others were freedmen (Lk 16:1-21).
(2) In the Epistles.
The application of this term is largely confined to the ministry of the gospel. Paul and his fellow-laborers regarded themselves as stewards of the mysteries of God (1Co 4:1, 1Co 4:2). The idea is that he take scrupulous care of that which was entrusted to him, and give it out to others faithfully and as directed by his master Jesus Christ. A bishop or overseer is to be as God’s steward (Tit 1:7). Peter considered himself and all other Christians as stewards of the manifold grace of God (1Pe 4:10). The prevalence of the custom of having guardians and stewards over children in their minority is shown in Gal 4:2. The difference in meaning of the two words used here is stated above. In Rom 16:23 Erastus is called the oikonomos of the city. This is best translated treasurer. Erastus was thus an influential member of the community of Corinth and evidently a faithful Christian.
Fuente: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Steward
General references
Gen 15:2; Gen 43:19; 1Ch 28:1; Luk 8:3
Figurative:
– The faithful steward described
Luk 12:35-38; Luk 12:42
– The unfaithful, described
Luk 16:1-8
– The parable of the pounds
Luk 19:12-27
– The parable of the talents
Mat 25:14-30
– Must be faithful
1Co 4:1-2; Tit 1:7; 1Pe 4:10