Who were they?

There is a lot of confusion in the world today concerning what an evangelist is and what his job should be. Here are some things to think about…

Terminology…

The term “evangelist” in New Testament Greek meant “a messenger of good,” or “a preacher of the gospel.” To evangelize is “to proclaim glad tidings” and the word gospel is a closely related word that means “good news” (Vine’s Dictionary).

The word “evangelist” (like apostle, prophet, pastor and teacher in Ephesians 4:11) is not a title, but is a description of the work he does. The religious world (and some ambitious preachers) has made the role of evangelists church rulers, leaders, decision-makers, marriage and family councilors, facility maintainence, wedding coordinators, funeral directors, official prayers, hospital and shut-in visitors for the church, confessors, activity planners, matchmakers, benevolence managers, correction and discipline delivers, negotiators, etc.

Who they are…

The term “evangelist” is actually only used specifically of two men in the New Testament. “Philip the evangelist” is mention in Acts 21:8 regarding in whose home Paul and his traveling companions stayed. In 2 Timothy 4:5, Timothy is told by Paul to “do the work of an evangelist…” The term “preacher” (or “hearld”) is used of the apostle Paul (1 Ti 2:7; 2 Ti 1:11) and of Old Testament Noah (2 Pe 2:5). However, clearly there were many others who preached the gospel.

Those who did preaching in the New Testament:

John the Baptist - Mt 4:17

Jesus - Mt 4:23; 9:35; 11:1; Mk 1:14

Twelve apostles - Mt 10:7; Mk 3:14; 16:15; Ac 5:42 (etc.)

Someone called by Jesus — Lk 9:60

All who were scattered - Ac 8:4

Philip - Ac 8:35

Saul / Paul - Ac 9:27; 13:35 (& Barnabas); 20:7; (etc)

Audience…

Every city - Mt 9:35; Lk 8:1 (and village); Ac 8:40

Poor - Mt 11:5

All the world - Mt 24:14; 26:13

All Galilee - Mk 1:39

All the world, every creature - Mk 16:15

Everywhere - Mk 16:20; Ac 8:4

People in the temple - Lk 20:1

All nations - Lk 24:47

Temple and in every house - Ac 5:42

Ethiopian - Ac 8:35

Message…

Repent - Mt 4:17

Gospel of the kingdom - Mt 4:23; 9:35; 24:14;  Ac 8:12 (etc)

The Word - Mk 2:2; Ac 8:4; 15:36

Repent and be baptized - Mk 16:15-16

Gospel, deliverance — Lk 4:18; Ac 14:21

Repentance and remission of sins — Lk 24:47

Resurrection through Jesus - Ac 4:2

Jesus / Christ — Ac 5:42; 8:5; 9:20 (Son of God); 17:3; 17:18

Forgiveness of sins — Ac 13:38

Turn from false religion — Ac 14:15

Things which concern the Lord — Ac 28:31

Christ crucified — 1 Co 1:23

Peace - Ep 2:17

Unsearchable riches of Christ — Ep 3:8

Reprove, rebuke, exhort — 2 Ti 4:2

Today…

There is a sense in which anyone who knows the truth can preach it, however there is also a sense in which the Lord “gave” that there be those among us who develop themselves especially to preach.

There is not a list of “qualifications” for evangelists in the New Testament, however the work implies a good working knowledge of the word of God and ability (and willingness) to speak it openly to others. Beware of the growing tendency of requiring formal education when Scripture says the preacher’s primary teacher is to be the Word of God: “…give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine” (1 Ti 4:13).

The role of the church is to “send” evangelists far and wide - both at home and around the world to spread the gospel.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?” Romans 10:14-15