We have looked at the word “minister” in connection with the role of an evangelist and have introduced the role of the Holy Spirit in the work of these gifted men listed in Ephesians 4:11.
“Preacher”
The word is translated from a Greek word that means “a herald” (Vine). As shepherds, it is descriptive of a work that is no more an official position than the shepherds. We need not professionalize these terms to describe an office of the institutional church. As an example of heralding, the saints who were persecuted and scattered from Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the word (Acts 8:1-4). These were Christians living in Jerusalem who were neither Apostles nor evangelists. We might wonder what business they had in preaching if it is correct to assume the right of only a specialized group to do this work.
Also, Paul was a preacher (1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11), even though he as also an apostle. In Romans 10:14, he wrote, “How shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach unless they are sent.” This proclaimer has a message of salvation to herald. Both Paul and the saints in Acts 8 went from place to place spreading the good news of salvation.“
Evangelist”
W.E. Vines defines the word to be “a messenger of good (news).” Nothing inherent in the word conveys the messenger’s practice of travel that is any different than that of apostles or prophets. The duration of one’s stay has no bearing on its meaning, either. Philip (Acts 21:8) and Timothy (2 Tim. 4:5) are called evangelists. From all accounts, Philip resided in Caesarea, where he raised a family. This work, like shepherds, as listed in Ephesians 4:11-12, resides in men whom God has given for His people. It is not clear from the mention of Philip as an evangelist in Acts 21 whether he was given this description because of his work in Samaria or his work in Caesarea. We may assume that it is because of his preaching in Samaria and his preaching to the Ethiopian on the Gaza road. However, upon a study of the letters to Timothy and Titus, the work of an evangelist is primarily among saints. he was told to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Tim. 4:2). Nothing in these letters represent an itinerant preacher on the road preaching to the lost from town to town.
It is generally reported that evangelists have only a small role among brethren because their work involves preaching the gospel to non-Christians. Lenski comments on Ephesians 4:11 under the heading of “the extension of the Church.” He writes, “Evangelists were specially designed to preach the gospel in districts where it had not been previously known. They are on this ground distinguished from pastors and teachers. They itinerated from place to place, carrying with them the wonderful story of the cross, and were quite exempt, as such, from the labors of organization or discipline. Our missionaries in modern times do the work of evangelists.”[1] Though I have a great deal of respect for Lenski’s scholarship, the Bible does not make this distinction. Seeing that the word “evangelist” properly means a “messenger of good tidings,” an improper distinction is sometimes made between an evangelist who preaches the gospel to the lost instead of preaching to brethren. What is the evidence for this distinction? From the letters written by Paul to evangelists, Timothy and Titus, it is quite clear that doing the work of an evangelist involves working among brethren by teaching them and leaving them an example. These are the same two things that represent the work of an apostle and shepherd. Rather than trying to find a different job for each of these ministers, we find the same job dispersed among more men where the gospel had been preached and obeyed.
The list of gifts (gifts of men) stated in Ephesians 4 includes apostles and prophets who are also listed as being the foundation of the household of God (Ephesians 2:19-20). The last set includes “evangelists, pastors, and teachers.” The pattern of teaching begins with the apostle Paul, who then sends evangelists that continue to teach, add what is lacking, and appoint elders in every city (Tit. 1:5). The assumption is that the evangelists pass the torch to shepherds who continue the same work. The work starts from Paul to Timothy or Titus, to shepherds. In the early stage, Paul and Barnabas came back to the same cities to appoint elders (Acts 14:23). This sets a precedent for the work of evangelists who do likewise.
One of the differences between evangelists and shepherds that may explain the origin of the idea that evangelists do not work among brethren is that they are more mobile and move where the need exists (i.e., “itinerant preachers”). Shepherds, on the other hand, appear to be more centralized in a community due to a connection to his family and the community in which they lived. However, just because a shepherd has a family and is well-thought-of by outsiders (1 Tim. 3:4,7) doesn’t mean that he couldn’t move to another town. Plus, the work of an evangelist, though he may not have a family, does not mean he could not stay for several years, as Philip did. In either case, it does appear from the letters of Titus and Timothy that once an evangelist accomplished the task of finding other replacements and leaving behind qualified leaders among the brethren, he would be sent somewhere else where he may repeat the same tradition. Acts 14:23, Acts 20, and Titus 1 show the importance of their work. Paul left Titus in the region of Crete to do two things (1) “set in order the things that are wanting, and (2) ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee” (Titus 1:5). We are not surprised to find a list of qualifications and an explanation of their role in both Titus and Timothy. Timothy was sent by Paul to go to many places for short visits (Thessalonica, Phillipi, Corinth, and Ephesus). In 2 Timothy 4, Paul writes, “Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia…And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus (vs. 10-12), Erastus is at Corinth and Trophimus I left at Miletum. It appears from Paul’s letters, that men such as Timothy moved around to check on brethren and teach and in some cases to report their condition back to Paul.
The amount of time for the stay is neither known nor is it important. They would stay as long as necessary to accomplish their work. As an apostle, Paul stayed 18 months in Corinth and then 3 ½ years in Ephesus teaching publically and house to house. The important thing to notice is that leadership was so important (Eph. 4:11-4) that brethren were not left without either sending or appointing men to the task. If evangelists would leave brethren in the hands of shepherds as the apostles had sent them, they could move on to other places and repeat what is lacking and appoint elders. In addition to this, what purpose would be served and what message would be sent if after Shepherds were appointed, evangelists continued to do the teaching? Compare today’s traditions to the biblical traditions. Imagine having shepherds appointed to do a work for which they are equipped but can’t because Titus is still in town doing it for them. Their roles would be very confusing to themselves and the flock, over which the Holy Spirit made them overseers. No biblical purpose is served to hire a preacher to teach and preach. Imagine Timothy leaving a place where he had appointed elders, and be called back to try out for the preaching job. Such ideas are foreign to the Scriptures. In keeping with God’s plan, the evangelists would have moved on and allowed the shepherds to lead as God intended. Such evangelists would be best used in taking their gift to another location where there were no shepherds to lead or few saints upon which to build. Brethren could send him with the support he needs to go to another city to fulfill the command of Jesus to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” (Mark 16:15). He would still be acting as a herald of truth to those who do not know Christ.