chām´bẽr -lin : In the Old Testament the word rendered chamberlain, סריס , ṣārı̄ṣ , is more properly "eunuch," an officer which oriental monarchs placed over their harems (Esther 1:10 , Esther 1:12 , Esther 1:15; Esther 2:3 , Esther 2:14 , Esther 2:21; Esther 4:4 f; Esther 6:2 , Esther 6:14; Esther 7:9; 2 Kings 23:11 ). This officer seems also to have had other duties. See under EUNUCH . In the New Testament (1) οἰκονόμος , oikonómos , literally manager of the household, apparently the "treasurer" as in the Revised Version (British and American) "Erastus the treasurer of the city saluteth you" (Romans 16:23 ). Compare adapted use as applied to Christian apostles and teachers, bishops, and even to individual members; in which cases, rendered "stewards" (1 Corinthians 4:1; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 4:10 ). (2) In Acts 12:20 , "Blastus the king's chamberlain" (ho epı́ toú koitō̇nos toú basiléōs , "he who is over the king's bed-chamber"), not treasure-chamber, as above; here praefectus cubiculo , or chief valet de chambre to the royal person, a position involving much honor and intimacy.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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