Was Jesus An Evangelist?

The English word "evangelist" originated from the Greek word, pronounced yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace. As a personal pronoun, the word is found only three times in the Holy Scriptures in which two men were specifically called an "evangelist" - Philip, one of "the seven" (see Philip The Evangelist) and Timothy, a convert and associate of the apostle Paul.

"^21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. ^21:9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy." (Acts 21:8-9 KJV)

"^4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead [see also Why Were Humans Created Physical?] at his appearing and his kingdom; ^4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ^4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts [see Lethal Lust] shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ^4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ^4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry." (2 Timothy 4:1-5 KJV)

There were however numerous other evangelists, as stated in Paul's listing of the various types of service in the Church of God (some have incorrectly used the verses quoted below as a supposed "ranking" system, usually by those who claimed to be "apostles" and therefore arrogantly claim to "outrank" everyone else, but such a self-serving idea is in direct violation of Christ's own command: "^22:24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. ^22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. ^22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve" Luke 22:24-26 KJV).

"^4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ^4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV)

"I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent"

We see from the verses quoted above who some of the evangelists were, but what specifically did they do? The answer to that question is also plainly written in the Bible because, although the word for "evangelist" is found only three times in the Scriptures, the word from which "evangelist" is both formed and defined is found over fifty times; the King James Version usually translates it as preach. It was that actual word that The Messiah (see also The Seed Of David and The Prophet Of Galilee) fulfilled the Prophecy about Himself: "he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor."

"^4:16 And he came to Nazareth [see also From Nazareth To Capernaum], where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day [see also What Did Jesus Do On The Sabbath? and Why Observe The True Sabbath?], and stood up for to read. ^4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias [see also The Prophets: Isaiah]. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

^4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind [see Paul's Blindness Lesson], to set at liberty them that are bruised, ^4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

^4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. ^4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." (Luke 4:16-21 KJV)

The Messiah travelled about because "I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent." The "preach the kingdom of God" was the word for what an evangelist does (see The Gospel of The Kingdom of God).

"^4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them [see The Healing Touch]. ^4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

^4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. ^4:43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent." (Luke 4:40-43 KJV)

All who later preached the true Gospel were "evangelists." The apostle Paul was an evangelist; "apostle" means someone sent, while "evangelist" means to preach the Gospel.

"^16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. ^16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

^16:11 Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis; ^16:12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days." (Acts 16:9-12 KJV)

Just as there were and are false "apostles," so too there are many false "evangelists" who preach a false "gospel," which is no "gospel" at all. Just as Satan has his false "apostles" ("^11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. ^11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. ^11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 KJV), so too does he have his false "evangelists" preaching a false gospel.

"^1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed [see The Lake Of Fire Into An Ocean Of Fire - When?].

^1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1:8-9 KJV)

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