by Joe R. Price
Synopsis: The word of God reveals the work of an evangelist is a divine charge of service and a sacred responsibility that must be faithfully fulfilled.
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2 Tim. 4:5).
What is the work of an evangelist? When brethren do not know the Bible answer to this question, unscriptural and unrealistic demands and expectations will be placed on him. When the evangelist does not know the Bible description of his work, he will be tempted to please himself and others instead of God (2 Tim. 4:3-4; Gal. 1:10). It ought not to be so. There is work he must do for which he is accountable.
An evangelist is a herald, a "bringer of good tidings" (Thayer, 257). Whether he travels to preach is not germane to the word or his work (Acts 8:40; 21:8). The evangelist is a gospel preacher. Paul explained, "I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word!" (2 Tim. 4:1-2).
The evangelist's work is not to entertain an audience with comedy and storytelling. Of course, public speaking is an element of proclaiming the word. Still, gospel preaching is not an after-dinner speech. The preacher's work is to "be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:2). Urgency is attached to his work. He is the Lord's minuteman, standing ready at a moment's notice to preach the word. His devoted readiness is borne out of love for God, for truth, and for souls. Timothy exemplified this attribute. Of him, Paul said, "For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel" (Phil. 2:20-22).
The following components embody the work of the evangelist who preaches the word (2 Tim. 4:2).
He is to "reprove" (KJV), "to convict, refute, confute, by conviction to bring to light, to expose, to find fault with, correct, to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, to call to account, show one his fault, to convict" (Thayer, 202-203). His work is to use God's word to refute sin and error, calling sinners to repentance and encouraging the faithful (Acts 20:20-21; Eph. 4:12).
He is "to tax with fault, chide, censure severely, to restrain, to admonish or charge sharply" (Thayer, 245). Anyone who thinks the preacher must only have a "positive" message should ponder these first two words very carefully (Gal. 4:16).
He is "to call to one's side, call for, summon, to beg, entreat, to strive to appease by entreaty, to comfort…" (Thayer, 482-483). God's word shall be used to encourage and build up. Like Jeremiah, by preaching God's word, the evangelist will have to "root out," "pull down," "destroy," and "throw down," but also "build" and "plant" (Jer. 1:9-10).
He is to have "patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance" (Thayer, 387). The evangelist must take his stand upon God's truth and stick to it, regardless of how people react. This is reminiscent of God's exhortation to Ezekiel, "Son of man, receive into your heart all My words that I speak to you, and hear with your ears. And go, get to the captives, to the children of your people, and speak to them and tell them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD,' whether they hear, or whether they refuse" (Ezek. 3:10-11). Continue to preach the word, both when it is readily accepted and when it is resisted (2 Tim. 2:24-26).
He is to give "instruction" (Strong, 1:23), and engage in "the act of teaching" (Thayer, 144-145). Preaching is teaching the truth, demonstrating and persuading from the Scriptures what the truth is, and our obligation to it (Acts 2:40; 17:2-4). Gospel preaching is unapologetically repetitive (Phil. 3:1; 2 Pet. 1:12-16; 3:1).
The evangelist's duty to be ready (instant, urgent) is constantly threatened. The temptation to please men and to secure oneself can override the urgency of preaching the word (2 Tim. 4:3-4). When brethren do not endure sound doctrine, preachers are tempted to scratch the itching ear rather than preach the needed message of truth. (See the poem, "To A Hireling," by Hugh Davis that appears on page 32.)
Sometimes the scratching sound heard from pulpits is generalization without application. By generally condemning immorality and doctrinal error, yet refusing to specifically identify the sin and doctrinal error (and those who teach it [2 Tim. 2:16-18]), little convincing, rebuking, and exhorting occurs. Yet, both the preacher and those in the pews come away comforted that truth was preached, when in fact, the needed truth has been unspoken and unheard.
The evangelist's work is not defined by rhetorical eloquence (1 Cor. 1:17; 2:1, 4, 13; 2 Cor. 10:10). One should certainly use good grammar, and not speak profanely. Yet, speaking talent is no substitute for sound, solid, clear, Bible preaching that convicts the soul and converts the lost. When evangelists are remembered for their storytelling and not the gospel, the work of "teaching" has not been accomplished. Be sure you can tell the difference, or you are liable to confuse one with the other. That is when we become susceptible to error through "smooth words and flattering speech" (Rom. 16:18).
The evangelist's work is not to be the church's social coordinator. Preaching the gospel is about feeding souls the gospel, not feeding stomachs goulash (John 6:26-27). Churches that expect the preacher to be their social director need to learn the work of the evangelist and the work of the local church. Churches with "youth ministers" and other such social designations are traveling the social gospel route, not Zion's highway of holiness (Isa. 35:8-10).
To fulfill his work, the evangelist must devote himself to "reading, to exhortation, to doctrine" (1 Tim. 4:13). He cannot preach what he does not know. That means he must immerse himself in God's word to handle it properly (2 Tim. 2:15). Churches should not expect a preacher to have a "D.D." or some other academic credential initialed behind his name to preach, but they should expect him to be a student of God's word. While we may appreciate such educational accomplishments, they do not qualify the evangelist for his work, nor do they recommend him to others as a preacher of truth (1 Cor. 1:26-29; 2:1-2).
The evangelist must go into the pulpit (and Bible class) prepared to proclaim the word of God. Foy E. Wallace said, "A young man once came to A.J. McCarty, and asked him how to go about making a preacher. Jack McCarty said, 'Young man, get brimful and running over with the word of God and it will come out!'" (2:2). Yes, indeed. The word of God equips the evangelist to preach (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16-4:2). The work of gospel preaching is not about filling time, it is about filling the time you have with the word of God. Planting God's seed (His word) into hearts is the work God gave evangelists (Luke 8:11-15; Rom. 10:13-17).
The evangelist must remain watchful (sober) and then accept the hardships that come with his work (2 Tim. 4:5). Preaching is not a popularity contest. Preachers (and the brethren) need to understand the work God gave him to do. We should expect him to do his work, and encourage him in it, not hinder him from it (Eph. 4:11-12). Fellow evangelist, fulfill your service without being deterred and distracted by false definitions and faulty expectations of your work (2 Tim. 4:5). Brethren, help the evangelist do his God-given work. The charge is made in the presence of Him who will judge us all (2 Tim. 4:1).
Davis, Hugh. "To A Hireling," quoted in "Editorial Left-overs" by Connie Adams. Truth Magazine April 20, 2006. http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume50/08-april-20.pdf
Strong, James. A Concise Dictionary of the Words of the New Testament and The Hebrew Bible. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.
Thayer, Joseph Henry. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1889.
Wallace, Foy E. Bulwarks of the Faith. Foy E. Wallace Jr. Publications, 1951.
Author Bio: Joe has preached the gospel for over forty years, working the last twenty-three years with the Mt. Baker Church of Christ in Bellingham, WA. His teaching material is available online at bibleanswer.com and swordtips1.wordpress.com. He can be reached at joerprice@mail.com.
