What Is An Evangelist... Biblically?

[Pastor Keith]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

The statement below was posted by Chan in another thread. When I saw the post I knew I wanted to start this thread because I have been thinking about this subject for the last few days.



What is an evangelist?

Do we have any biblical or even historical evidence concerning what made one an evangelist?

Someone said recently that many in ministry don't have any idea of their calling, somewhere around 80% or more.


The problem with most apostolic movements is that in reality they only recognize 2 offices, a pastor and a man who travels which we call a evangelist, but in many ways most likely isn't.

It is about time that we embrace the whole five fold ministry.

[Felicity]

Originally Posted by tbpew

distance/seperation does seem to be systemic in our mode of operation.

I am hopeful that my own livingroom will become more and more a place where distances between me and my neighbors, friends and brethren can be made very, very, small.

This is good!

[Praxeas]

ISBE
Evangelist

ē̇-van´jel-ist: This is a form of the word ordinarily translated “gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον, euaggélion), except that here it designates one who announces that gospel to others (εὐαγγελιστής, euaggelistḗs, “a bringer of good tidings”), literally, God Himself is an evangelist, for He “preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham” (Gal_3:8); Jesus Christ was an evangelist, for He also “preached the gospel” (Luk_20:1); Paul was an evangelist as well as an apostle (Rom_1:15); Philip the deacon was an evangelist (Act_21:8); and Timothy, the pastor (2Ti_4:5); and indeed all the early disciples who, on being driven out of Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Act_8:4 the King James Version).

But Eph_4:11 teaches that one particular order of the ministry, distinguished from every other, is singled out by the Head of the church for this work in a distinctive sense. All may possess the gift of an evangelist in a measure, and be obligated to exercise its privilege and duty, but some are specially endued with it. “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

It will be seen that as an order in the ministry, the evangelist precedes that of the pastor and teacher, a fact which harmonizes with the character of the work each is still recognized as doing. The evangelist has no fixed place of residence, but moves about in different localities, preaching the gospel to those ignorant of it before. As these are converted and united to Jesus Christ by faith, the work of the pastor and teacher begins, to instruct them further in the things of Christ and build them up in the faith.

At a later time, the name of “evangelist” was given the writers of the four Gospels because they tell the story of the gospel and because the effect of their promulgation at the beginning was very much like the work of the preaching evangelist. In character, the Gospels bear something of the same relation to the Epistles as evangelists bear to pastors and teachers.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by keith4him

Someone said recently that many in ministry don't have any idea of their calling, somewhere around 80% or more.


The problem with most apostolic movements is that in reality they only recognize 2 offices, a pastor and a man who travels which we call a evangelist, but in many ways most likely isn't.

It is about time that we embrace the whole five fold ministry.

Yes sir... as I mature in Christ I find that many prayers I have prayed all my life (and never seen an answer to) were being prayed in a certain level of ignorance concerning the subject of the prayer.

I have prayed for the last 35 years that we would see all of the various ministries at work in the local congregation. I am beginning to see that it was needful that I gain a clearer understand of exactly what those ministries are to accomplish. When God does a work He does it in accordance to His word and my understanding may, often, need to be enlightened as part of the fulfillment of that prayer.

So... in all of His patience and love, God is still in a 35 year journey to answer my prayer.

I begin to see also that the fulflling of my prayer that all the ministries be at work in the local gathering is not just something we pray that God "do". But, more than I had previously thought, has some to do with us simply finding where we are best adapted to work in the local gathering and becoming part of one (or more) of those ministries.

In the meantime... we do what we can all do... and do the work of an evanglist.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by tbpew View Post
distance/seperation does seem to be systemic in our mode of operation.

I am hopeful that my own livingroom will become more and more a place where distances between me and my neighbors, friends and brethren can be made very, very, small.

So true... when I finish properly closing my obligations with the church I have been preaching weekends at I plan to begin doing the very same thing bro.

I think... after decades of preparation...I am getting ready to wade out into the shallows of such a scenario.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

ISBE
Evangelist

ē̇-van´jel-ist: This is a form of the word ordinarily translated “gospel” (εὐαγγέλιον, euaggélion), except that here it designates one who announces that gospel to others (εὐαγγελιστής, euaggelistḗs, “a bringer of good tidings”), literally, God Himself is an evangelist, for He “preached the gospel beforehand unto Abraham” (Gal_3:8); Jesus Christ was an evangelist, for He also “preached the gospel” (Luk_20:1); Paul was an evangelist as well as an apostle (Rom_1:15); Philip the deacon was an evangelist (Act_21:8); and Timothy, the pastor (2Ti_4:5); and indeed all the early disciples who, on being driven out of Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Act_8:4 the King James Version).

But Eph_4:11 teaches that one particular order of the ministry, distinguished from every other, is singled out by the Head of the church for this work in a distinctive sense. All may possess the gift of an evangelist in a measure, and be obligated to exercise its privilege and duty, but some are specially endued with it. “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.”

It will be seen that as an order in the ministry, the evangelist precedes that of the pastor and teacher, a fact which harmonizes with the character of the work each is still recognized as doing. The evangelist has no fixed place of residence, but moves about in different localities, preaching the gospel to those ignorant of it before. As these are converted and united to Jesus Christ by faith, the work of the pastor and teacher begins, to instruct them further in the things of Christ and build them up in the faith.

At a later time, the name of “evangelist” was given the writers of the four Gospels because they tell the story of the gospel and because the effect of their promulgation at the beginning was very much like the work of the preaching evangelist. In character, the Gospels bear something of the same relation to the Epistles as evangelists bear to pastors and teachers.

Thanks... very thorough.

The last paragraph is in line with another place that stated an evanglist was one who proclaimed the gospel but was not an apostle. Meaning, to me, that an apostle was also doing the work of an evanglist as well but most often referred to in their apostolic function.

So it seems pretty clear that todays understanding of an evanglist has differed somewhat from the original understanding. The evanglist was one who delivered the gospel to those who had not yet heard it rather than a "revivalist" or a "revival bringer" type capacity that is so often expected today.

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I've been doing some more thinking on the subject.

My little thoughts for the night seem to go along the lines of different types of ministries involved in those mentioned in Ephesians 4.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

It appears that there was one ministry that was an inter-congregational. That of the apostle. As I currently understand it the apostles ministered largely to the elders in the various congregations to help answer their questions etc. This ministry operated between the congregations as a support to the overall church.

There appear to be three intra-congregational ministries. The pastors, teachers & prophets. While I am not real sure about prophets I am including it in this group until I learn otherwise. These ministers were for the perfecting of the saints on a local level. The did so with the support of the apostolic ministry helping & advising along the way.

Then there was one extra-congregational ministry. That was the office of the evangelist. An evangelist was one who proclaimed the gospel to those outside the church. The fruit of the evangelists labor became part of the gatherings and then experienced the intra-congregational ministries of pastor, teacher & prophet which all worked, again, with the inter-congregational support of the apostles.

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Does this fit your picture of the working of the various ministries?

If so do you have anything to add?

If not... could you share why you disagree?

Apostles were what we call "missionaries" today: they go to a place, preach the gospel, plant the local church, train and set in place the pastor and elders, and then go on to another location to do the same thing.

There is some question as to what prophets are supposed to do. I'm inclined to believe they're the ones who should be preaching "revival" to sleeping and dead churches. I'm inclined to look to prophets such as Agabus in the book of Acts for an example of how prophets in the Church are supposed to function. When Paul was called to his first missionary journey, the account in Acts tells us that there were prophets and there were teachers in the church at Antioch and that these men were fasting and praying. Paul was one of them. The Holy Ghost instructed them to set Paul apart and send him out to the work. So, prophets appear to have some involvement in calling people to specific ministry.

I agree that the evangelist's work is outside of the local church, though he is accountable to the particular local church from which he is sent.

[Joelel]

Originally Posted by keith4him

Someone said recently that many in ministry don't have any idea of their calling, somewhere around 80% or more.


The problem with most apostolic movements is that in reality they only recognize 2 offices, a pastor and a man who travels which we call a evangelist, but in many ways most likely isn't.

It is about time that we embrace the whole five fold ministry.

Hi Keith,Your right. An other thing to look at is the word teaches the Apostles and Prophets are the foundation of the Church and Jesus the Chif corner stone.How can we have a true church without the foundation? Also the Apostles started the church assemblies and then appointed Pastors,Elders,Bishops over each assembly and kept head athority over the churches he started.There are suppose to be Apostles and prophets to every assembly.Also the people in the assemblies never voted in and out who they wanted for a pastor. The bottom line is the Church is a big mess.

[2leg]

i agreed your decision about the thread. I think you can the answer to your Question in http://kimclement.com
good day and God bless

[shawndell]

I always thaught that a evangelist was someone who went out and compeld themto come in to the grace of Jesus and the faith of his teaching.Has any one had trouble getting the people here in America to come in and be saved??