The Church's Role in Spreading the Gospel Message

The church's role in spreading the gospel message is fundamentally tied to its identity as the body of Christ, tasked with proclaiming the "good news" of salvation to all people ^{[3, 6, 11]}. The term "gospel" itself, derived from the Greek evangelion, signifies this "good message" or "welcome intelligence of salvation" ^[3]. Early Christian preachers, known as evangelistai or evangelists, were those who announced the arrival and mission of the Savior ^{[2, 5]}.

The biblical foundation for this mission is evident throughout the New Testament. Jesus himself preached the gospel (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:14), and his followers were commissioned to continue this work ^[6]. Paul describes his own ministry as being a "servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God" (Romans 15:16) ^[1]. This highlights a specific aspect of the church's mission: to make the offering of the Gentiles acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit ^[1]. The gospel is not merely a historical account but is described as "the power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18) and "everlasting" (1 Peter 1:25; Revelation 14:6) ^[6].

The church, understood as an assembly (ecclesia) called out by legitimate authority, is the primary vehicle for this message ^{[4, 7]}. While the term "church" in the New Testament refers to an assembly of believers rather than a physical building, it quickly came to denote the place of worship in post-apostolic times ^[4]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, defines a Christian church as "a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for the purposes of Christian fellowship, and edification in righteousness" ^[15]. This collective body is entrusted with the stewardship of preaching the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:17) ^[6].

The New Testament frequently uses the metaphor of the church as a body, with Christ as its head (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 4:4-6) ^{[8, 10]}. This body is composed of "many members" (1 Corinthians 12:20), each with distinct functions, yet all united as "one body" ^{[9, 13]}. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that while there are many members—some teachers, others hearers, some who give, others who receive—all form "but one church, of which Christ is the head" ^[9]. This unity is essential for the church's mission, as "harmony and care for each other in the church is essential" (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) ^[12]. The diversity of gifts within the church, such as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, are all given for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12) ^[5]. Evangelists, in particular, are described as those whose work 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" ^[5]. This role is akin to that of a missionary ^[5].

The spread of the gospel is not a solitary endeavor but a communal one. The Lord "gave the word" to his apostles, entrusting them with the "word of reconciliation" and commissioning them to preach it ^[18]. John Gill observes that "great was the company of those that published it," referring to the apostles and seventy disciples sent out by Christ ^[18]. This collective effort underscores the church's corporate responsibility. The Jerusalem church, considered the "original, the mother Church of Christianity," demonstrated this by sending forth Barnabas, indicating that "the Church collectively had power to commission and send forth any of its own members, whom it saw God had qualified for a particular work" ^[15].

The content of the gospel message, which the church is to spread, is "the whole system of Gospel doctrine" ^[17]. Adam Clarke emphasizes that this truth, being "the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind," must be preached "in love" ^[17]. He warns against "scolding and abuse from the pulpit or press" in matters of religion, arguing that "He who has the truth of God has no need of any means to defend or propagate it, but those which love to God and man provides" ^[17]. This highlights not only the message itself but also the manner in which it is to be communicated.

The ultimate goal of the church's evangelistic mission is to bring people into the unified body of Christ. As Tyndale House notes on Galatians 3:28, "Everyone comes to Christ and receives God’s promises in exactly the same way... The community of believers is one body, the body of Christ" ^[11]. This unity transcends differences, whether of gender, social status, or ethnicity, resulting in peace and harmonious relationships (Colossians 3:15) ^{[10, 11]}. Through this process, Gentile and Jewish Christians are joined together in Christ, becoming "a holy temple for the Lord" (Ephesians 2:21) ^[14]. The vision of an "everlasting Gospel" being rapidly sent throughout the world, perhaps through "a particular dispensation of providence and grace" or through "any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians," points to the ongoing and global nature of this mission ^[16].

Sources

Romans “that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. -- Romans 15:16”
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”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospel — A word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the Greek evangelion, i.e., "good message." It denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was afterwards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's life, published by those who are therefore called Evangelists', writers of the history of the gospel (the evangelion). (3.) The term is often used to express collecti”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Church — Derived probably from the Greek kuriakon (i.e., "the Lord's house"), which was used by ancient authors for the place of worship. In the New Testament it is the translation of the Greek word ecclesia, which is synonymous with the Hebrew kahal of the Old Testament, both words meaning simply an assembly, the character of which can only be known from the connection in which the word is found. There is no clear instance of its being used for a place of meeting or of worship, although in post-apostolic times it early received this meaning. Nor is this word ever us”
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”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Church — + The derivation of the word is generally said to be from the Greek kuriakon (kuriakon) "belonging to the Lord." But the derivation has been too hastily assumed. It is probably connected with kirk, the Latin circus, circulus, the Greek kuklos (kuklos) because the congregations were gathered in circles. + Ecclesia (ekklesia) the Greek word for church, originally meant an assembly called out by the magistrate, or by legitimate authority. It was in this last sense that the word was adapted and applied by the writers of the New Testament to the Christian congrega”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:12: 12:12-31 The church is like a body (see 12:27) composed of many different parts, each with its own function as determined by God (see 12:11, 18, 28; Rom 12:4-5).”
1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:20: But now are they many members,.... Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and service: yet but one body; all are united together, and make up one complete body, and which without each of them would not be perfect: so there are many members in the body of Christ, the church; some are teachers, others are hearers; some give, and others receive; but all make up but one church, of which Christ is the head; nor can anyone of them be spared; was anyone wanting, even the meanest, there would be a deficiency, and the church ”
Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 3:15: 3:15 Just as Christ is one, so there can be only one body of Christ (see 1:18; Eph 4:4-6). Allegiance to Jesus as Lord must transcend differences and will result in peace (harmonious relationships).”
Galatians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Galatians 3:28: 3:28 There is no longer: Everyone comes to Christ and receives God’s promises in exactly the same way (cp. 1 Cor 12:12-13; Eph 2:14; Col 3:11). • male and female: Cp. Gen 1:27. • you are all one: The community of believers is one body, the body of Christ (see Rom 12:4-5; 1 Cor 12:27; Eph 2:15-16, 19-22). • in Christ Jesus: See Col 2:6–3:11.”
1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:25: 12:25-26 The church is a unified body, so harmony and care for each other in the church is essential.”
1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 12:14: For the body is not one member - The mystical body, the Church, as well as the natural body, is composed of many members.”
Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 2:21: 2:21 Joined together in Christ, Gentile and Jewish Christians become a holy temple for the Lord, because the Lord himself is among his people (see Matt 18:20; 28:20; 1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:4-5).”
Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 11:22: The Church which was in Jerusalem - This was the original, the mother Church of Christianity; not the Church of Rome; there were Christian Churches founded in many places, which exist to the present day, before Rome heard the Gospel of the kingdom. A Christian Church means a company of believers in Christ Jesus, united for the purposes of Christian fellowship, and edification in righteousness. They sent forth Barnabas - It seems, then, that the Church collectively had power to commission and send forth any of its own members, whom it saw God had qualified for a parti”
Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
Ephesians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Ephesians 4:15: But, speaking the truth in love - The truth recommended by the apostle is the whole system of Gospel doctrine; this they are to teach and preach, and this is opposed to the deceit mentioned above. This truth, as it is the doctrine of God's eternal love to mankind, must be preached in love. Scolding and abuse from the pulpit or press, in matters of religion, are truly monstrous. He who has the truth of God has no need of any means to defend or propagate it, but those which love to God and man provides. Grow up into him - This is a continuance of the metaphor taken”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 68:11: The Lord gave the word,.... The word of the Gospel to his apostles. He committed the word of reconciliation to them; he intrusted them with it, as a sacred depositum; he gave gifts unto them, qualifying them for the ministration of it; he gave them a commission to preach it; and he gave them a door of utterance to speak it as it should be, and an opportunity to publish it. The Targum wrongly interprets it of the word of the law; great was the company of those that published it; there were in our Lord's time twelve apostles and seventy disciples, who were sent out t”

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