The English word “evangelism” comes from the Greek euaggélion, a combination of the adverb eû (“well”) + noun ággelos (“messenger”), meaning “good news” or “glad tidings.” In English Bibles it is often rendered “gospel.” The verb euaggelízō means to “proclaim good news” or “announce glad tidings,” sometimes translated “preach the gospel.” Evangelism, when properly understood, is not what we do to people but what we do with the good news of the gospel message.1
The Arena of Euaggelízō
Scripture documents various occasions when good news [euaggélion] was announced [euaggelízō]: (a) for an individual (Luke 1:19); (b) within a small group (Luke 2:10); (c) before a multitude (Luke 3:18). When the early church, comprised of both men and women, was forced to flee from Jerusalem, these scattered Christians went everywhere euaggelizómenoi (“declaring [the] good news”) of the word (Acts 8:1-4). No specific setting, situation, or environment is disclosed. Whenever and wherever it is appropriate for glad tidings to be proclaimed is an opportunity for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It is no more complicated than a beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.2
Whose Responsibility?
In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, as Paul considers “anyone” who is a new creation “in Christ,” the first person plurals (“we,” “us”) are in reference to all who have obeyed the gospel, having been baptized into Christ.3 Speaking collectively the apostle observes, God “having reconciled us to himself through Christ” (v. 18a), “has given us the ministry of reconciliation” (v. 18b), “having placed in us the word of reconciliation” (v. 19b). “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ” (v. 20a) as God is “appealing through us, we implore on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” (v. 20b).
Unfortunately, a number of English versions have inserted the second-person pronoun “you” into v. 20b (ASV, CEV, ERV, ESV, NASB, NET, NIV, N/KJV, N/RSV, WEB), even though it is absent from the Greek text. Paul’s targeted reading audience had already been reconciled to God (v. 18), so he is not saying, “You do again what you have already done.” Instead, we who are in Christ, having been reconciled to God and having been given the ministry and the word of reconciliation, are Christ’s representatives as God pleads through us. “Be reconciled to God” is the message we are proclaiming,4 and the same pronominal reference continues through v. 21.
Whomever has been reconciled to God through Christ not only has access to every spiritual blessing and the privileges this affords but has also been given the responsibility, as Christ’s feet, hands, and mouthpiece, of fulfilling the God-given ministry of reconciliation, inviting those around us to be reconciled to God. “Evangelism is not a special activity for special people at special times; it is a normal activity for all church people all the time.”5
Everyone in Christ’s Body is Involved
In the previous letter to the Corinthians, Paul had described the church as a body comprised of many different parts (1 Cor. 12:12-27). In consideration of the collective whole, “each” member has a contribution to make and an active role to play. The body of Christ, while diverse in its composition, functions as a unit (vv. 14-20). With mutual dependency (vv. 21-24), any discord or non-involvement is indicative of an unhealthy body (vv. 25-26). “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually” (v. 27).
In view of what Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:17-21 (noted above), every member of Christ’s body has a ministry to fulfill that enables others to have the same opportunity to be reconciled to God through Christ. None of us is exempted from this ministry. Each must therefore determine, according to individual capabilities, opportunities, and circle of influence, how contributing to this very important work can be effected.
In the next post we will consider various approaches that afford every member of Christ’s body opportunities to be more evangelistic.
--Kevin L. Moore
Endnotes:
1 H. Eddie Fox and George E. Morris, Faith-Sharing (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 1986) 54.
2 Paraphrasing Daniel T. Niles, That They May Have Life (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1951) 96.
3 Acts 18:8; 1 Cor. 12:13; cf. Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:27. Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are the author’s own translation.
4 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God’” –Christian Standard Bible. “We are therefore Christ’s representatives – as though God were urging action through us; on Christ’s behalf we implore [people], ‘Be reconciled to God’” –Richard K. Moore, “2 Cor. 5.20b in the English Bible,” The Bible Translator 54.1 (2003): 146-55.
5 While attributed to George E. Sweazey, the statement is almost identical to what David Dunlap published: “Evangelism is not a special activity for special people at special times. It is the normal activity of all Christians as the Lord gives opportunity,” in “Door to Door Evangelism,” Plymouth Brethren Writings (retrieved 12 Dec. 2025), <Link>. See also Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 8:1-4; 11:19-21; 18:26; 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Pet. 2:1-10.
Related Posts: The Great Commission, Evangelistic Approaches for Everyone
Related articles:
Image credit: https://medium.com/@jerichomorris20/my-journey-in-personal-evangelism-39c7c07f30e9
No comments:
Post a Comment