Definition and Role of an Evangelist in Scripture

An evangelist, derived from the Greek word evangelistes, is primarily understood as a "publisher of glad tidings" or a "missionary preacher of the gospel" ^[1]. The term signifies one who proclaims the good news, or evangelion, concerning the person and mission of Christ ^[4]. This role is distinct from other ministries within the early Christian church, such as apostles, prophets, pastors, and teachers ^{[8, 10]}.

The New Testament mentions evangelists in key passages. Ephesians 4:11 states, "He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers" ^[8]. This verse highlights the evangelist as one of the gifts Christ gave to the church for its edification and growth ^[10]. Another significant mention is Philip, who is explicitly called an evangelist in Acts 21:8 ^[1]. Philip's ministry involved traveling from city to city, preaching the word, as seen in Acts 8:4 and 8:40 ^[1].

Distinction from Other Ministries

The role of an evangelist is often understood in contrast to other leadership positions in the early church:

Apostles: The term "apostle" means "one sent forth" ^[5] or "a messenger" ^[3]. The twelve disciples chosen by Jesus were officially designated as apostles, entrusted with organizing the church and disseminating the gospel ^{[3, 5]}. Paul also identified himself as an apostle, "given authority as a preacher of the good news" (Romans 1:1) ^[7]. While apostles were also missionary evangelists commissioned by God ^[9], evangelists, like Philip, did not possess the same authority as an apostle ^[1]. The Easton's Bible Dictionary suggests that evangelists lacked the authority of an apostle, the gift of prophecy, or the responsibility of pastoral supervision ^[1].
Prophets: New Testament prophets, distinct from Old Testament prophets, were empowered to speak a message from God, not primarily to predict the future ^[9]. The church is described as being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, referring to their faithful witness ^[9].
Pastors and Teachers: These roles are generally considered the "ordinary stated ministers of a particular flock," responsible for the instruction and pastoral care of believers ^{[2, 10]}. In the book of Revelation, pastors of churches are referred to as "angels" or "stars," symbolizing their role as messengers and sources of light for the churches ^{[11, 12]}.

The Smith's Bible Dictionary places evangelists between apostles and prophets on one hand, and pastors and teachers on the other ^[2]. This suggests a mediating or transitional role. The primary function of an evangelist is the proclamation of the "glad tidings to those who have not known them," rather than the ongoing instruction and pastoral care of those who have already believed and been baptized ^[2]. This distinction implies that the name "evangelist" denotes a specific work or function rather than a fixed ecclesiastical order ^[2].

The Nature of the Evangelist's Work

The work of an evangelist is characterized by several key aspects:

Proclamation of the Gospel: The core task is to announce the good news of salvation through Christ ^{[2, 4]}. This involves carrying the gospel to new places where it has not been heard before ^[1].
Itinerant Ministry: Evangelists were often itinerant preachers, moving from one location to another to spread the message ^[1]. Philip's ministry exemplifies this, as he traveled and preached in various cities ^[1].
Missionary Focus: The term "evangelist" is closely aligned with the modern concept of a missionary ^[2]. Their focus is on reaching the unreached and expanding the geographical and demographic boundaries of the Christian faith.
Foundation Laying: While not having the same foundational authority as the apostles, evangelists contribute to the initial establishment of faith in new areas. They are instrumental in the initial conversion experience, paving the way for pastors and teachers to nurture and instruct new believers ^[2].

The concept of an "angel" (from the Greek angelos, meaning "messenger") is sometimes used in a broader sense in scripture to refer to human messengers, including prophets, priests, and ministers of the New Testament ^[6]. In Revelation, ministers of the Gospel are called "angels" because of their mission and commission from Christ to preach the Gospel ^{[11, 13]}. This linguistic connection underscores the evangelist's primary identity as a messenger.

The writers of the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are also referred to as evangelists because their writings are historical accounts of the person and work of Christ, serving as the "good message" (evangelion) ^[4]. Matthew presented Christ as the promised King, Mark as a prophet mighty in deed and word, Luke as the Savior of humanity, and John emphasized Christ's divine nature ^[4]. These written accounts are foundational to the evangelistic message.

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Evangelist — A "publisher of glad tidings;" a missionary preacher of the gospel (Eph. 4:11). This title is applied to Philip (Acts 21:8), who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word (8:4, 40). Judging from the case of Philip, evangelists had neither the authority of an apostle, nor the gift of prophecy, nor the responsibility of pastoral supervision over a portion of the flock. They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel to places where it was previously unknown. The writers of the four Gospels are known as”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Evangelist — (publisher of glad tidings). In the New Testament the "evangelists" appear on the one hand after the "apostles" and "prophets;" on the other before the "pastors" and "teachers." They probably stood between the two. (Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11) The work of the evangelist is the proclamation of the glad tidings to those who have not known them, rather than the instruction and pastoral care of those who have believed and been baptized. It follows also that the name denotes a work rather than an order . Its use is nearly like our word missionary. The evangelis”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — A person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father (Heb. 3:1; John 20:21). It is, however, generally used as designating the body of disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of his church and the dissemination of his gospel, "the twelve," as they are called (Matt. 10:1-5; Mark 3:14; 6:7; Luke 6:13; 9:1). We have four lists of the apostles, one by each of the synoptic evangelists (Matt. 10:2-4; Mark 3:16; Luke 6:14), and one in the Acts (1:13). No two of these lists”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Apostle — (one sent forth), in the New Testament originally the official name of those twelve of the disciples whom Jesus chose to send forth first to preach the gospel and to be with him during the course of his ministry on earth. The word also appears to have been used in a non-official sense to designate a much wider circle of Christian messengers and teachers See (2 Corinthians 8:23; Philemon 2:25) It is only of those who were officially designated apostles that we treat in the article. Their names are given in (Matthew 10:2-4) and Christ's charge to them in the r”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Angel — A word signifying, both in the Hebrew and Greek, a "messenger," and hence employed to denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger (Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luke 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa. 42:19; Hag. 1:13), of priests (Mal. 2:7), and ministers of the New Testament (Rev. 1:20). It is also applied to such impersonal agents as the pestilence (2 Sam. 24:16, 17; 2 Kings 19:35), the wind (Ps. 104:4). But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government”
Romans “Romans 1:1 (BBE) — Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, an Apostle by the selection of God, given authority as a preacher of the good news,”
Ephesians “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; -- Ephesians 4:11”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:20: 2:20 Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God. • Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5; 4:11; see also 1 Cor 12:10, 28-29; 14:1-5, 22-24, 29-32, 39; cp. Acts 13:1; 19:6; 21:9-10). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10). • The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful wit”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:11: Greek, emphatical. "Himself" by His supreme power. "It is HE that gave," &c. gave some, apostles--Translate, "some to be apostles, and some to be prophets," &c. The men who filled the office, no less than the office itself, were a divine gift [EADIE]. Ministers did not give themselves. Compare with the list here, Co1 12:10, Co1 12:28. As the apostles, prophets, and evangelists were special and extraordinary ministers, so "pastors and teachers" are the ordinary stated ministers of a particular flock, including, probably, the bishops, presbyters, an”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 14:6: And I saw another angel,.... This is to be understood not of one of the ministering spirits so called; for though wings are sometimes ascribed to angels, and Gabriel is said to fly swiftly; and though they desire to look into the mysteries of the everlasting Gospel, yet the preaching of that is not committed to any of them; but a minister of the Gospel is intended, who is the angel of the church, for in this book pastors of churches are so called, Rev 1:20; and not a single minister of the Gospel is meant, but a set of Gospel ministers; and some think that those a”
Revelation (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Revelation 1:16: And he had in his right hand seven stars,.... The angels or pastors of the seven churches, Rev 1:20. The ministers of the Gospel are compared to stars, because of their efficient cause, God, who has made them, and fixed them in their proper place, and for his glory; and because of the matter of them, being the same with the heavens, so ministers are of the same nature with the churches; and because of their form, light, which they receive from the sun, so preachers of the Gospel receive their light from Christ; and because of their multitude and variety, so the mi”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:30: And he shall send his angels,.... Not the angels, i.e. ministering spirits, so called, not from their nature, but their office, as being sent forth by God and Christ; but men angels, or messengers, the ministers and preachers of the Gospel, whom Christ would call, qualify, and send forth into all the world of the Gentiles, to preach his Gospel, and plant churches there still more, when that at Jerusalem was broken up and dissolved. These are called "angels", because of their mission, and commission from Christ, to preach the Gospel; and because of their knowledge an”

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