CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 355
2 Tim 1:11, “the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher” (cf. Rom
1:1; Gal 2:7)
Restricted use of the word “apostle” may come for several reasons:
Due to the fact that the apostles seem to be listed as a closed group:
Their names are listed as twelve foundations of heaven, Rev 21:14, giving them a
closed number
Likewise in 2 Pet 3:2, they appear to have a closed number
As in Acts 1:26; 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23
Due to false apostles considering that they speak with the authority of the Word of God,
adding to Scripture, which is prohibited in Revelation 22:18
Paul also wrote against the “false apostles” plaguing the church in Corinth, 2 Cor 11:13,
as well as “exceedingly super apostles,” 2 Cor 12:11; as did John in Rev 2:2
5) dia,konoj, servant (30 NT uses):
Col 1:6-7 (NKJ), “which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as
it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; as you also
learned from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on your
behalf [o[j evstin pisto.j u`pe.r u`mw/n dia,konoj tou/ cristou/]”
Col 1:23, “and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was
proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister”
Col 1:25 [Eng. Gen], “Whereof I am a minister, according to the dispensation of God, which is giuen
mee vnto you ward, to fulfill the word of God”
1 Cor 3:5 [NKJ], “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed,
as the Lord gave to each one?”
Notice the instrumentality of the servant in bringing belief!
ἢ διάκονοι δι᾽ ὧν ἐπιστεύσατε
“Servants through whom [through which/by whom] you believed”
(a) qera,pwn, attendant, servant—of one who serves freely (1 NT use), only of Moses:
Heb 3:5, “Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things
which were to be spoken later”
Notice the progression at the end of the verse:
Servant [θεράπων] > bearing testimony [μαρτύριον] > to what would be said [λαλέω]
ὡς θεράπων, εἰς μαρτύριον τῶν λαληθησομένων
As a servant, unto testimony of that which must/would be spoken
(b) Note also that in 1 Thess 3:2 dia,konoj was removed from the Greek NA27:
NKJ [following the Greek Orthodox Text and the BYZ]: “and sent Timothy, our brother and
minister of God [dia,konon tou/ qeou/], and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ [kai.
sunergo.n h`mw/n evn tw/| euvaggeli,w| tou/ cristou/,], to establish you and encourage you
concerning your faith”
NAS [following the Greek NA27]: “and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker
in the gospel of Christ [sunergo.n tou/ qeou/ evn tw/| euvaggeli,w| tou/ Cristou/], to strengthen and
encourage you as to your faith”
In the Greek Orthodox text, this verse makes a helpful link between serving God and co-laboring
in the work of the Gospel of Christ!
6) a;ggeloj (179 total NT uses), meaning messenger; normally translated “angel”:
Of John the Baptist:
Matt 11:10, “This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send My messenger before
Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You,’” (Jesus quoting of Mal 3:1;
cf. Mark 1:2; Luke 7:27)
Of the messengers of John the Baptist:
Luke 7:24, “And when the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the multitudes
about John, ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the
wind?’”
Of the messengers of Jesus:
Luke 9:52, “and He sent messengers on ahead of Him. And they went, and entered a village of
the Samaritans, to make arrangements for Him”