Dictionary Article

NT term referring to one who proclaims the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are only three occurrences of the word in the NT. The apostle Paul exhorted the Ephesian church to walk worthy of their calling (Eph 4:1-12 (RV · LV · Read together)). The exhortation stressed the gifts given to each within the unity of the Spirit. Paul explained that the ascended Christ has given “some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers” (v 11 (RV · LV · Read together), nasb). Paul was saying that Christ calls persons to these ministries and gives them to the church. The evangelist is one of Christ’s gifts to the church. The meaning of the term indicates that the task of such a person is to function as a spokesperson for the church in proclaiming the gospel to the world. An evangelist is similar to an apostle in function, except that being an apostle involved a personal relationship to Jesus during his earthly ministry (Acts 1:21-22 (RV · LV · Read together)). The evangelist stands in contrast to the pastor/teacher. The former makes the initial proclamation, and the latter provides continuing follow-up ministry that develops maturity in the believer. The reference to Philip the evangelist (21:8 (RV · LV · Read together)) supports the idea of evangelism as a gifted ministry to which Christ calls some in the church.

EPH 4:1–12: RV EPH 4:1–12 · LV EPH 4:1–12 · Read together EPH 4:1–12

Show passage in OET

OET-RV EPH 4:1

4 Because of that, I, a prisoner for Yahweh, am urging you all to walk worthily of the calling to which you were called

OET-RV EPH 4:2

2 with all humility, gentleness, and patience, putting up with one another because of your love for them,

OET-RV EPH 4:3

3 being serious about keeping the unity of God’s spirit in the bond of peace.

OET-RV EPH 4:4

4 There is one body and one spirit, just as you all were called to one hope when you were called.

OET-RV EPH 4:5

5 There’s one master, one system of faith, one immersion,

OET-RV EPH 4:6

6 one God and father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

OET-RV EPH 4:7

7 Yet each one of us has been given a measure of grace as a gift from the messiah,

OET-RV EPH 4:8

8 just as it was written,
⇔ “When he ascended to heaven,
⇔ he eliminated captivity
⇔ and gave gifts to people.”

OET-RV EPH 4:9

9 Of course, he couldn’t ascend if he hadn’t first descended down to earth.

OET-RV EPH 4:10

10 So the one who descended is the very one who also ascended above all the heavens so that he could fill all locations.

OET-RV EPH 4:11

11 Then he gave some as missionaries, some as prophets, some as announcers of the good message, some as pastors and teachers

OET-RV EPH 4:12

12 so as to complete the dedicated ones for the work of service—for building the body of the messiah

OET-LV EPH 4:1

4 Therefore I _am _exhorting you _all, I the prisoner in the_master, to _walk worthily of _the calling to _which you _all _were _called,

OET-LV EPH 4:2

2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, tolerating of _one _another in love,

OET-LV EPH 4:3

3 being _earnest to _be _keeping the oneness of _the spirit in the bond of_ the _peace.

OET-LV EPH 4:4

4 There _is _one body and one spirit, as also you _all _were _called in one hope of _the calling of _you _all,

OET-LV EPH 4:5

5 one master, one faith, one immersion,

OET-LV EPH 4:6

6 one god and father of _all, who is over all, and through all, and in all.

OET-LV EPH 4:7

7 But to _each one of _us was _given the grace, according _to the measure of _the gift of _the chosen _one /messiah.

OET-LV EPH 4:8

8 Therefore he _is _saying:
Having _gone _up to height, he _captured captivity, he _gave gifts to_ the _people.

OET-LV EPH 4:9

9 And which:
he _went _up, what is it, except not/lest that also he _came _down into the lower parts of _the earth?

OET-LV EPH 4:10

10 The one having _come _down is himself also the one having _gone _up above all the heavens, in _order _that he _may _fill all the things.

OET-LV EPH 4:11

11 And on _one _hand he gave the ambassadors, on _the _other _hand the prophets, on _the _other _hand the good _message _preachers, on _the _other _hand the shepherds and teachers,

OET-LV EPH 4:12

12 with the completing of _the holy ones for the_work of _service, because/for the_building of _the body of _the chosen _one /messiah,

More than one gift or ministry may be performed by the same person. Paul charged Timothy with his responsibilities as a pastor and teacher, and also exhorted him to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tm 4:5 (RV · LV · Read together)). Therefore, “evangelist” can refer to a person called to that distinct ministry, and also to a function that may be performed by others.

Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary