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Where Is Office Of Evangelist Who Is Not A Pastor Or Missionary

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by JD731, Jul 19, 2024.

  1. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    There are many full time Evangelists who are neither Pastors or church builders. Many are high profile preachers with much influence. Many writes books and promotes the modern idea of continous rewriting of the English Bible.

    Is this a calling or just a career pursuit?
     
  2. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    Probably fair to say both would be true for some. I doubt there are many of them qualified to participate in the translation process, though.

    It is just my opinion that the Bible Student limits himself if he/she isn't looking at the original languages. Reliance on translations alone isn't necessarily a problem, but we can gain a better insight by understanding original meanings and intents, uses, etc.


    God bless.
     
  3. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    If a man said God was calling him into evangelism and he happened to be a Greek Scholar where would he find his marching orders if he did not become a pastor or a missionary? What else is an evangelist supposed to do? I read where the apostle Paul said of the local church pastor that he is to do the work of an evangelist. It seems to me that many treat this as a separate office of the church but I could be wrong.
     
  4. Judith

    Judith Well-Known Member
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    Paul did not always pastor a church. Mostly he was an evangelist. If we try and divide the times he was pastoring as a calling and the times as an evangelist as not a calling that would be a mistake. Both are callings, but as in any area not all who put on the robe are actually called.
     
  5. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    Paul was an evangelist in the purest sense of the word. He started local church congregations everywhere he went and the letters he wrote to them is the instructions for all churches even at this very day. He was an apostle. He was called to be an apostle. It was a foundational office of the church of Jesus Christ. There are no apostles since those 13 men and no prophets, another office, since those 70 men. The closest thing we have today is the evangelist who never starts a church or goes anywhere there is not already a church. It seems to me that the closest we get to the NT pattern is the missionary who devotes his life to his calling or the pastor who is doing the work of an evangelist as part of his calling. What do you think?
     
  6. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    In 2 Timothy 4:5, Paul instructs Timothy to do the work of an evangelist

    peace to you
     
  7. Darrell C

    Darrell C Well-Known Member
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    I would just say that while a gift can be a separate function ...

    Ephesians 4:11
    And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

    ... it is often true that one may receive more than one gift.

    There is no question Paul was a evangelist. There is no question Paul wrote books. One admirable aspect of Paul's work is that he supported himself, refusing payment lest he be charged with seeking to profit from the Gospel. Paul was in every sense of the word a Prophet, as well as a teacher. He was an Apostle. He wore a lot of hats, and I'm not sure many of us would want to try to fill his shoes, lol. I view him as one of the greatest heroes of Scripture.

    In regards to modern evangelists, I think a lot of us have been turned off by televangelists exhorting money from their viewers. But we have to consider the sincere evangelists out there, men and women who do the work and we will never hear their names. Missionaries, for example. Those that come into the media spotlight are usually going to fall prey to it. The world hates Christ, and will do everything it can to malign those doing His work.


    God bless.
     
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  8. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    Christians put up with a lot of non Christian behavior, don't you think.

    Among the list of Spirit given enablement's, called gifts of the Spirit, in 1 Cor 12, apostle and prophets mentioned as being first. That is because we learn in Ephesians 2:20 they are foundational.
    ,1Co 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers,
    after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

    It is interesting that evangelist is not mentioned as a gift, so my conclusion is that evangelism is the work done by the apostles and prophets and though they are no longer present with us, their work goes on through the pastor and the missionary who starts churches and organizes them where there are none. I don't see the modern activities of most evangelists as having scriptural authority, but I have been told my thinking is wrong on this subject.
     
  9. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    The list Paul gives of Christ’s gifts to the church in Ephesians 4:11, as DarrelC pointed out above, has evangelists just after apostles and prophets and before pastors and teachers.

    Not sure the lists are exhaustive by any means.

    Not really sure if your reason for the OP either.

    peace to you
     
  10. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    Ephesians 4 mentions the gifts present when the letter was written in 60 AD. If the mere mention of the gifts then present, as is done in this passage, were to be considered as perpetual instruction for the church, would we not still have apostles and prophets today and shouldn't we still be confirming the gospel with miracles?
     
  11. JonC

    JonC Moderator
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    I believe:

    1. the role (not an office) of an evangelist is to evangelize (preach the gospel in order to be used to make converts).

    2. the office of pastor is to pastor or shepard a congregation as an "undershepard".

    The target audience is different. An evangelist seeks to spread the gospel while a pastor seeks to disciple those who are already saved.

    There is, of course, an overlap. We are all called to evangelize (witness) and even to pastor (disciple one another)....just not necessarily in those roles.
     
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  12. JD731

    JD731 Well-Known Member

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    I have heard men say God called them to give up pastoring a church to go into evangelism. These men did not become missionaries and as far as I know never started a church The ones I have seen and known have travelled around from city to city and church to church. I know there is scriptural instruction for apostles and prophets concerning their calling and also for pastor teachers, but where is the instruction for the evangelists?
     
  13. canadyjd

    canadyjd Well-Known Member

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    Peace to you
     
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