THE EVANGELISTS IN THE CHURCH

I. HISTORICAL POSITIONS CONCERNING the EVANGELIST in the

RESTORATION MOVEMENT.
A. In the nineteenth century the preacher was an elder, and the term EVANGELIST was not
emphasized.
B. Then, the office was emphasized, but importance was placed on the EVANGELIST as a man
on the move, a traveling, itinerant EVANGELIST, converting, preaching first principles.
C. At one tune, the located, local EVANGELIST was opposed as being unscriptural.
D. Some spoke against the EVANGELIST preaching to the EKKLESIA.
E. In more recent times, there as been a cry against the professional evangelist performing tasks of
a denominational pastor.
F. In some circumstances, there has been an attempt to teach EVANGELISTIC oversight of the
CHURCH before elders are appointed.
II. The EVANGELIST in the NEW TESTAMENT
A. The Greek word, euanggelistes evangelist
1. The preacher of the gospel, hence a proclaimer of good news. (See Arndt and Gingrich
Greek Lexicon, p. 318).
2. A bringer of good tidings (Thayers Greek Lexicon,. p. 257).
3. It comes from the words eu meaning well and anggelos meaning
messenger (Vines Expository Dictionary of the New Testament, , p. 44).
4. A related word is euanggelion meaning good news, and it is
translated gospel (Romans 1:16; I Corinthians 15:1, etc.).
5. The verb form, euanggelidzomai is translated I preach the gospel (Matthew 11:5; Luke
7:22; 9:6; I Peter 1:25; I Corinthians 9:16; etc). The construction in Mark 16:15,
preach the gospel is NOT this word, but rather a form of kerusso to proclaim and
euanggelion, the good tidings.
B. Usage of the word, EVANGELIST in the New Testament
1. Philip was an EVANGELIST (Acts 21:8).
2. The EVANGELIST is found in the structure of the CHURCH
along with apostles, prophets, and pastors (Ephesians 4:11).
3. Timothy was to do the work of an EVANGELIST

(II Timothy 4:5).

C. A SUMMARY of the specific works of an EVANGELIST

1. Timothy was to proclaim as a herald the Word

(II Timothy 4:5).

(II Timothy 4:2).

2. He was to emphasize sound words as opposed to fables, and warn against

departures from TRUTH (1 Timothy 1:3,10; 4:6,11-16; 4:1-3; 6:3-11, 6:20;
II Timothy 1:13; 4:2-4). See also Titus 2:1
This BODY OF TRUTH is also called:
a. The thing committed, a deposit (paratheke) (I Timothy 6:20;
II Timothy 1:13, 14).
b. Message (kerugma) (II Timothy 4:17). See also
Titus 1:3.
c. Truth (I Timothy 2.3,4; II Timothy 4:3,4).
d. The faith (I Timothy 4:6).
3. The EVANGELIST was to raise up elders and deacons (I Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).
See II Timothy 2:2 where faithful men may include elders who are apt to teach,
and capable of exhorting in sound doctrine (I Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:9). Thus, his
work was to:
a. Emphasize the qualifications and work of elders (I Timothy 3:1-13;
Titus 1:6-11)
b. Appoint them

(Titus 1:5).

c. When elders sin, and this is confirmed by witnesses, REPROVE

them (I Timothy 5:19-21).
d. Teach that ELDERS should be HONORED, even with
DOUBLE HONOR, that is, financial support, when they
labor in the Word (I Timothy 5:17, 18).
e. The evangelist could not appoint ELDERS quickly without
investigation (I Timothy 5:22).
4. The EVANGELIST was to TEACH andhelp the CHURCH to practice
Gods plan for BENEVOLENCE (I Timothy 5:3-16).
5. The EVANGELIST was to EXHORT concerning principles ot WORSHIP
and SERVICE (I Timothy 2:1-15; 6:1,2; Titus 2 1-10).
6. He was also to PROVIDE an EXAMPLE of PURITY and GOOD WORKS
(I Timothy 4:12; 6:11; II Timothy 2:22-26; Titus 2:7).

7. The EVANGELIST was to TEACH and help the CHURCH to EXERCISE

DISCIPLINE
a. A factious man, after admonition, was to be AVOIDED
(Titus 3:10, 11).
b. Paul said, From these also turn away (II Timothy 3:1-5).
c. Some had been delivered unto Satan (I Timothy 1:20).
8. The EVANGELIST was to raise up TEACHERS (II Timothy 2:2), FOR
the EVANGELIST must LEAVE that place (II Timothy 4:9, 21. It
NOTED, however, that TYCHICUS was to come (II Timothy 4:12).
D. Other TERMS which DESCRIBE the EVANGELIST and his WORK.
1. PREACHER

(kerux)

a. The kerux was the herald or MESSENGER of a (1) king, (2) agistrate, (3) military
commander, etc. who conveyed the OFFICIAL MESSAGES, or who gave a
public summons or command (Thayer, p. 346).
b. The KERUX had NO PERSONAL AUTHORITY. The AUTHORITY rested in the
ONE who sent the message. However, because of the ORIGIN and NATURE of
the MESSAGE, the KERUX should speak with authority
(Titus 2:15).
c. Paul called himself a kerux, a preacher (I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy
1:11).
d. Timothy was to PREACH the word (II Timothy 4:2). The word, PREACH is
the VERB form of the word kerux. Therefore, the EVANGELIST is a kerux.
e. One important lesson that issues from this term is that the KERUX, the herald of
the KING has NO RIGHT to amend, change, add to, or subtract from the
MESSAGE.
2. MINISTER

(diakonos)

a. The DIAKONOS was a servant of a king...of those who advance the

interests of others even at the sacrifice of their own
(Thayers Greek Lexicon, p. 138)
b. The Greek word, diakonos is used in the following ways:
(1) For SERVANTS who WAITED on TABLES
(John 2:5, 9)
(2) For the SERVANT of a KING

(Matthew 22:13).

(3) Of Phoebe, who was a SERVANT of the CHURCH in

Cenchrea (Romans 16:1).
(4) Of DEACONS, special SERVANTS in the CHURCH
(Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3:8,12, 13).
(5) Of the EVANGELIST who SERVES the EKKLESIA,
the church (I Timothy 4:6). A form of this word
is also used for ministry in II Timothy 4:5.
c. The VERB form, diakoneo is used in the following manner:
(1) Of ANGELS MINISTERING to Jesus (Matthew 4:11).
(2) Of JESUS coming to earth to MINISTER and give His
life as a ransom (Matthew 20:28).
(3) Of WAITING on TABLES, ministering at MEALS
(Luke 12:37; 17:8; See also Luke 4:39; 8:3;
Matthew 8:15; Luke 10:40, etc.).
(4) Of supplying necessities to those in NEED (Matthew
25:44; Acts 6:2). It is used in the context of the
contribution for the NEEDY Jewish saints
(Romans15:25; II Corinthians 8:19, 20).
(5) Of a variety of forms of SERVICE done by MEMBERS
of the CHURCH (II Timothy 1:18; I Peter 4:9-11)
d. One important lesson drawn from the above is that the
EVANGELIST is NOT characterized by POSITION or
STATUS, but rather by his SERVICE to OTHERS.
3. BONDSERVANT (doulos)
a. The word doulos is used in a MASTER-SLAVE relationship
(Ephesians 6:5-9).
b. Paul was a BONDSERVANT, a doulos of Jesus Christ
(Romans 1:1; etc.).
c. The EVANGELIST is the Lords servant (II Timothy 2:24).
(1) Here, the word servant means SLAVE
(2) This SLAVE is the PROPERTY of the LORD.
The word Lord is translated MASTER in
Ephesians 6:5, 9

E. ACTIVITIES which DESCRIBE the EVANGELIST and his WORK.

1. The EVANGELIST is to EXHORT (parakaleo)
a. The root meaning of this word is to call to ones side.
b. It is defined as request, implore, appeal to, entreat, try to console
or conciliate, speak to in a friendly manner
(Arndt and Gingrich Greek Lexicon, pp. 622-23).
c. A form of this word is used for the HOLY SPIRIT as the
COMFORTER (John 14:26; 15:26).
d. It is also used to describe JESUS as our ADVOCATE
(I John 2:1).
e. Barnabas was the son of exhortation or consolation
(Acts 4:36).
f. Paul set the stage for the EVANGELISTS ATTITUDE in
his teaching, as he exhorted or implored
TIMOTHY (I Timothy 1:3; 2:1).
g. The word EXHORT conveys the idea of a fervent PLEASE!. It
has within it no semblance of arrogance, or the puffed up
attitude of a person who speaks down to another. It
emphasizes the dignity of man and the LOVE of the
EVANGELIST.
h. The EVANGELIST is to be gentle, forbearing, meek
(II Timothy 2:24, 25).
i. Paul URGED TIMOTHY, the EVANGELIST, to EXHORT
(I Timothy 5:1; II Timothy 4:2; 6:2. See the noun
form in I Timothy 4:13).
2. The EVANGELIST is to CHARGE and COMMAND

(paranggello)

a. This term was a MILITARY TERM which meant to PASS

COMMANDS from one to another.
b.

It means to insist on and carries a sense of URGENCY

c. The NOUN form is used of the CHARGE given to the JAILOR

by his SUPERIORS (Acts 16:24).
d. The APOSTLES were told by the COUNCIL, We charged you
with a charge.

(Acts 5:28).

e. Paul PASSED A COMMAND (charged) Timothy

(I Timothy 1:18).
f. The EVANGELIST was to PASS a COMMAND of the Lord
(CHARGE) certain men NOT to teach a different
DOCTRINE (I Timothy 1:3-5).
g. TIMOTHY was to COMMAND (CHARGE) and TEACH
(I Timothy 4:11).
h. Titus was to SPEAK, EXHORT, and REPROVE with all
AUTHORITY (epitage) (Titus 2:15).
i. Therefore, EXHORT and CHARGE blend together. The
EVANGELIST is to IMPLORE, but he is also to
speak with AUTHORITY and URGENCY because
of the MESSAGE
3. The EVANGELiST is to TEACH

(didasko).

a. He is to impart knowledge to hold discourse with others in

order to instruct them (See Thayer. p. 144).
b. He is to a public reader of the Scriptures

(See I Timothy 4:13).

c. He is to teach others (1 Timothy 4:11; 4:13; 6:2; II Timothy 4:2.

See Paul as a TEACHER in I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy
1:11) who in turn would teach others also
(II Timothy 2:2).
4. The EVANGELIST is to REPROVE and REBUKE.
a. The EVANGELIST is NOT to REBUKE an older man
(I Timothy 5:1). The word here is epiplesso which
means to REBUKE HARSHLY, or TREAT
SAVAGELY. Here REBUKE is set in CONTRAST
to EXHORT.
b. However, when men sin, the EVANGELIST is to REBUKE or
REPROVE. Another word is used here, elegcho which
means to bring their sin firmly upon their conscience.
and convict them (I Timothy 5:20).
c. This latter word, elegcho does NOT carry with it the harsh
disrespect found in the first one (epiplesso).
d. The ELDERS are also to CONVICT or REPROVE (elegcho)
(Titus 1:9).
e. Titus, the EVANGELIST, is to REPROVE (elegcho) the FALSE
TEACHERS SHARPLY (Titus 1:12).

5. The EVANGELIST is to GUARD the DEPOSIT of TRUTH

a. A THING had been ENTRUSTED to Timothy
(I Timothy 6:20; II Timothy 1:14).
b. The EXPRESSION that which is committed translates
paratheke, a deposit.
c. It is to be GUARDED through the Holy Spirit that dwelt in him
(II Timothy 1:14).
6. The EVANGELIST is to Put them in remembrance
(I Timothy 4:6; II Timothy 2:14)