{
  "id": "dict_001807",
  "term": "Evangelists",
  "slug": "evangelists",
  "letter": "E",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "Evangelists are people specially gifted or appointed to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the term can refer both to a recognized ministry role and to believers who carry out gospel witness more generally.",
  "simple_one_line": "",
  "tooltip_text": "",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [],
  "see_also": [],
  "lede_intro": "",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [],
  "description_academic_short": "In the New Testament, evangelists are those who preach the good news and help spread the message of Christ. Philip is explicitly called an evangelist, and Timothy is told to do the work of an evangelist. Ephesians 4:11 also lists evangelists among Christ’s ministry gifts to the church, though Christians differ on how this role relates to later church offices.",
  "description_academic_full": "Evangelists are proclaimers of the gospel, especially those whom God equips in a distinctive way to announce the good news of Jesus Christ and aid the church’s mission. The New Testament uses the term directly for Philip (Acts 21:8), instructs Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5), and includes evangelists among the ministry gifts Christ gives his church (Eph. 4:11). Scripture clearly presents evangelistic ministry as important for the spread of the gospel and the strengthening of the church, but interpreters do not all agree on whether “evangelist” names a continuing office, a spiritual gift, or a broader ministry function that may appear in different forms. The safest conclusion is that evangelists are those who are especially engaged in gospel proclamation, whether in a recognized ministry role or through a distinct gifting for that work.",
  "background_biblical_context": "",
  "background_historical_context": "",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "",
  "key_texts_primary": [],
  "key_texts_secondary": [],
  "original_language_note": "",
  "theological_significance": "",
  "philosophical_explanation": "",
  "interpretive_cautions": "",
  "major_views_note": "",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "",
  "practical_significance": "",
  "meta_description": "Evangelists are people specially gifted or appointed to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, the term can refer both to a recognized ministry role and to believers who carry out gospel witness more generally.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/evangelists/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/evangelists.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}