Evangelism in the New Testament: A Brief Analysis

8/9/2019 Evangelism in the New Testament: A Brief Analysis

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Evangelism in the New Testament: A Brief Analysis

Introduction

The purpose of this paper is to discuss evangelism in the New Testament and then formulate a

personal belief of evangelism. As a jumping off point it is helpful to examine the term evangel of

which evangelism is a derivative. Evangel comes into English from the Greek term euangelion, a

compound word which is most simply translated good news (Webster, 429; Newman, 75). The English

word gospel is used to translate euangelion directly. Gospel is a compound word which means

good tale (Webster, 528). The noun form is used to describe content and the verb form gives clues

about emphasis and method.

This paper is divided into 5 parts. The first five parts are an analysis of evangelism in the New

Testament: 1) Content of the Gospel; 2) Emphasis on evangelism by Jesus, the disciples, and Paul;

3)Methods employed; 4) The work of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. The last section will be a statement

of personal belief about evangelism based on the analysis.

Content of the GospelMark begins his presentation, The Beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God (1:1). This is

a concise statement that gives us direct access into the content of the Gospel. For Mark, the Gospel of

Jesus Christ begins with the arrival of John the Baptist in the wilderness as the forerunner of the

promised One spoken of in the prophets. But in 1:15 Jesus own preaching is summarized, The time is

fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the Gospel. What is this Gospel? It is the

message that John preached about Jesus, for John proclaimed the that One was coming and then

identified Jesus as that One. This is Marks point, the good news is the person, Jesus.

But Jesus also speaks of the Kingdom of God in conjunction with the gospel, or as the gospel

(also Mrk 8:35; 10:29). Therefore, the content of the gospel has something to do with the at handness

of the Kingdom. This is again clarified by Mark in 1:1 since Christ is the Greek term for messiah or

anointed one and is a refers to the King. Jesus is the king and must thus have a kingdom, a realm of

rulership and authority. The second title, Son of God further confirms that Jesus is the King based on

the ancient concept of royalty or kings as sons of God and especially the Roman concept of Caesar being

divine (see Ps 2).

Mark, of course is writing from a post-crucifixion and post-resurrection understanding of the

gospel. His purpose is to declare the content of the gospel and he makes it clear from the start that

Jesus is that content. In Acts there are several clues that confirm this. Luke preferred the verbal form

preach the good news, and throughout Acts the message preached as good news of the LordJesus or

that Jesus is the Christ (i.e. 5:42; 8:12; 8:35; 10:36; 11:20). What is exceptional about Jesus is the

resurrection as the confirming act through which he is proclaimed Lord. This is a central element of the

gospel preached (Acts 13:32-39).

Paul received the content of the Gospel by a revelation from the Lord Jesus. He received the

same message to be proclaimed as the other apostles and it included the cross (1 Cor 1:17), the

resurrection (Rom 4:24,25; 2 Tim 2:8), the fact of Gods grace and our response of faith (Eph 2:8,9).

Thus throughout the New Testament it is clear that the gospel is not as much a religious teaching or

philosophy, but rather it is a Person, Jesus Christ, and the action God has and is taking through that

person, his death, resurrection and exaltation, to bring about his Kingdom. Luke summarizes the Gospel


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in the words of Jesus, This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third

day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at

Jerusalem. (Lk 24:46-47 NIV)

Emphasis

The preceding section deals with the good news as a noun. Luke prefers the verbal form and thus

demonstrates the emphasis of evangelism, that is the sharing or preaching of the gospel in an ever

expanding circle (Acts 1:8). Whereas, the Gospel as message begins with the appearance of John the

Baptist and consists of Jesus Christ the Son of God, Luke indicates that the proclamation (evangelism)

begins with angelic activity prior to Johns birth and again at the birth of Jesus (Lk 1:19; 2:10; It is

interesting to note that according to Revelation 14:6 there will be an eschatological angelic

proclamation of the eternal gospel). Next, John is sent to preach or evangelize (Lk 3:18) followed by

Jesus himself as evangelist (Lk 4:43; 8:7; 9:6).

Matthew closes his Gospel account with the Lords commissioning of the disciples to continue in

the task of evangelism, Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing... [and] teaching....

(28:19-20a; c.f. Mrk 16:15ff) This is what the disciples proceeded to do as recorded in Acts. Day after

day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the

good news (evangelizing) that Jesus is the Christ (5:42 NIV). When persecution breaks out against

the growing number of disciples they begin to scatter. Yet wherever the believers went they continued

to preach the gospel (evangelize, Acts 8:4). This evangelism could be one-on-one (Philip and the

Ethiopian, Acts 8:35) or in groups (Philip in Samaritan town, Acts 8:1-6). It is under these circumstances

that the Gospel begins to reach further and further afield and always there is an emphasis on

evangelism (Acts 10:36; 11:19,20; 14:5-7).

Beginning in Acts 13 Paul and company take up the evangelistic banner with the first missionary

journey and the rest of Acts recounts the highlights of Pauls endeavors. Pauls own ministry was driven

By a deep sense of calling (Rm 1:1,14,15; Eph 3:8; Acts 20;24) and he was ever seeking new fields in

which to labor (Rom 15:20; 2 Cor 10:16) and he sought to ensure that this vision would be carried on (2

Tim 4:5; 2:2).

Thus it is clear that the work of evangelism (preaching the good news) is of a high priority

beginning with Jesus and continuing with the disciples including Paul. But how did they go about the

business of evangelism?

Methods

Paul describes the process of salvation in these words,

But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, `Who will ascend into

heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or `Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring

Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in

your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth,

"Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you

confess and are saved. (Romans 10:6-10 NIV)

This statement is profoundly simple but not simplistic. It is in fact a threat to the religious

establishment of every age because it strips those who want to be in control of others lives of any power


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to so. But, and this is where method comes in, Paul goes on to say, Everyone who calls on the name of

the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they

believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to

them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of

those who bring good news! (Rom 10:13-15, NIV). The church is to send out evangelists. Not just Billy

Grahams, but each member of the body is to evangelize by sharing the good news about the Lord Jesus

Christ.

A second aspect of method is prayer. Prayer that confronts the spiritual forces of this present

age that seek to hinder the effective evangelization of our world and prayer that releases the power of

God in our lives to give us utterance and boldness to open our mouths to make known the mysteries

of the gospel (c.f. Eph 6:10-20).

A third method in effective evangelism is found in our lifestyle. First, we are to live in a manner

worthy of the gospel of Christ (Phil 1:27). Second, we are to whole heartedly give ourselves for the sake

of those we are seeking to evangelize (1 Thes 2:8,9)! In other words, we are to live out our lives as Jesus

did and as he called his disciples to, by taking up our cross and following him. But is this a possibility for

us? Yes, it is, but only in and through the Holy Spirit.

The Work ofThe Holy Spirit in Evangelism

When Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world as evangelists (preachers of the good

news), he did not send them forth without the promise. In fact, he forbid them to go until they had

received that promise, the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:39; Jn 14:16-21; 16:5-15; Acts 1:4-8). Peter latter affirms

that those who preached the good news (evangelized), did so by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven (1

Pet 1:12b).

Paul affirms the same, I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has

accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done -- by the

power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to

Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ (Rom 15: 18,19; c.f. 1 Thes 1:5).

It is clear then that the Holy Spirit is the primary source and any method used that is not reliant

on the Spirit will be ineffectual but not altogether unfruitful (See Phil 1:15-18).

A Statement of Personal Belief on Evangelism

I believe, based on the preceding brief analysis of evangelism in the New Testament, that evangelism is

the work of the Holy Spirit and that except for the angelic anouncement at the Lords birth and the

appocalyptic angelic evangelism in Revelation it is solely accomplished through individual members of

the Church. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we

beg you on behalf of Christ be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:20).

Therefore:

1. We are commanded by the Lord to evangelize.2. We are dependent on the gift of the Holy Spirit in general and on particualr gifts he

gives us and works of power done by him to accomplish the task of evangelization.

3. Effective evangelism relys on beleivers living lives worthy of their calling in Christ.4. Effective evangelism takes place through a totaly sold out life: sold out to Christ and

sold aut for those being evangelised.


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5. Prayer as spiritual warfare and as seeking the words to speak and for the boldnessto speak them is a key element in evangelism.

6. Though lifestyle is critical, evangelism can only take place if words are spoken, thewitness must ultimately be the testimony about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They

cannot believe if they do not hear and they cannot hear if we do not speak.

7. Evangelism is speaking the good news about a person, not a religious teaching orphilosophy.

8. Though Paul spoke of looking for new territory, not all believers are apostles and formany of us evangelism takes place in our Jerusalem.

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Evangelism in the New Testament: A Brief Analysis