An examination of the historical development of the ministry of the evangelist within the Christian church
[Thesis]
F. H. Harber
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
1994
223
Ph.D.
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
1994
The thesis of this study is that the ministry of the contemporary evangelist is an authentic expression of the New Testament evangelist. This study is therefore an analysis of the role of the evangelist throughout the history of Christianity. Chapter 1 introduces the study by examining the role of the primitive evangelist. The background and etymology of usd\epsilon\'\upsilon\alpha\gamma\gamma\epsilon\lambda \iota\sigma\tau\'\eta\zetausd is examined in light of its appearances in Scripture and the context of its occurrence. Chapter 2 examines the historic development of the evangelist from the period of the early church to the eighteenth century. The chapter discusses the decline of itinerant ministries in the early church and traces the rise of itineracy up to the eighteenth century. Chapter 3 focuses on contemporary understandings of the vocational evangelist. The functions, criticisms, and theology of evangelists are discussed in light of the major preaching and music evangelists of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Chapter 4 examines the etymological and biblical relationship of the ministry of the contemporary evangelist to the ministry of the primitive evangelist. A synthesis is achieved by comparing and contrasting the role of the evangelist from these two historic eras. The conclusion of this study discusses the future outlook of the contemporary evangelist as well as the productivity of evangelistic crusades in the church today. Implications and conclusions drawn from the lives of successful evangelists are also presented. This study concludes that the ministry of the contemporary evangelist is the most valid expression of the New Testament evangelist in church history. The conclusion supports the assertation that the office of evangelist remains, and will continue to be, an important factor in the task of world evangelization.