Evangelist, Evangeloen, & Evangelizo

Another of the gifts to the body of Christ is the evangelist.  In the church we have people that are identified as evangelists.  Most view them as full-time ministers who go to various locations and preach revival messages. The noun evangelist occurs only three times in the New Testament [Eph 4:11, Acts 21:8, and  2Tim 4:5] and is defined as a “good news bearer”.

Because Phillip is designated as an evangelist, his preaching to the Ethiopian Eunuch has apparently led to the notion that evangelists travel and introduce others to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  This IS part of the picture.  However, if evangelists are gifts to the Body of Believers, then the emphasis on their ministry does not fit the Ephesians 4:8-13 passage.  Building a definition of evangelism and evangelizing is important because Jesus’ commission includes “Go into all the world and preach (G2785) the gospel (G2098) [Mark 16:13].

 

Consider first Acts 8:4,12:  They that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching (evangelizo G2097) the word.    …   But when they believed Philip preaching (evangelizo) the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

The good news message (evangeloen G2098) is the noun “gospel” derived from the Greek verb evangelizo (G2097) seen above.  A person who performs the verb is administering the gospel message.  Therefore, the evangelist (G2099) is associated with preaching the gospel’s good news (G2097). Notice, however, that all the dispersed believers went about exangelizing.  The mission of every believer includes preaching the gospel. It is not limited to a specialized, select group.  

Performing a word study on the Greek shows that the translators chose the term “preach the gospel” for evangelizo in half of its locations and “preach” in most of the other locations (especially where the object of the verb is mentioned).  Evangelizo is more narrow than the normal Greek for preach, karusso (G2784: which occurs 61 times meaning to publish with authority or openly proclaim something that has been done).  Compare: Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching (karusso G2785) the gospel (evangeloen G2098) of the kingdom (Matt 4:23a) with Galatians 1:11 where Paul stated, “I certify you, brethren, that the gospel (evangeloen) which was preached (evangelizo) of me is not after man”. 

 

Evangelists, therefore, are believers who share the gospel (evangeloen) as they go about their lives encountering people who need information about salvation found in Jesus Christ.  The “gift of Evangelist” to the church is the person who exemplifies how preaching should be done.  He demonstrates and trains believers in the basics of the evangeloen so that they are more skilled in their own evangelizo efforts.  Biblically, evangelists are not the “full-time road preachers” as much as they are the pulpit preachers who equip the saints for their ministry work.  (Believers holding this position in the church have been incorrectly defined as pastors.) An evangelists is not important for his personal soul-winning but is important because he helps the “regular” believers improve their obedience in following the Holy Spirit when they share the gospel.  All Christians are destined to obey the leading of the Lord and to give an account, when asked, of the hope within them (1Peter 3:15).  When the “gift ministry” performs his function within the church, Holy Spirit will have no shortage of evangelists from whom preaching the gospel can manifest.  Amen

Comments

[Richard]

Present-day evangelists have great ministries, but usually do not train the believer for his or her ministry.

[michael Teems]

we the American church have taken this messed up view to the whole world and it just keeps reproducing over and over.

[Susan]

It has been my experience that many people who have a great gift of evangelism tend to be frustrated with the Body who may not have the same drive and destiny. Jason has been confronted with such a person - who really is quite angry with others who don't share his view.

[JL Zini]

Richard, I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ then unpick all the mysteries of the devine Word, for salvation is the thing we are to live for. Not just one or two of us, but all believers!

[JL Zini]

Richard, I am certain of this. To share the wrathof God with a hard heart, a cold lip, a tearless eye and an unfeeling spirit is to harden men, not benefit them.

[Richard]

Sharing the love God has put into our hearts draws others toward the cross. Jesus stated that those who have been forgiven much tend to love much. Salvation by works produces legalism. The grace of God is a free gift to those who understand they do not deserve it.