CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 407
Tyndale (1534);
Geneva (1560);
Bishops (1595); KJV
(1611); Darby (1884)
(n12) avnastrofh.n (13 NT uses), translated: language (Wycliffe 1 st ed); conversation (Wycliffe
2 nd ed and KJV); behavior (NAS); etc.:
Gal 1:13 (Wycliffe 1 st ed), “Forsothe ye herden of my lyuynge [or: language] sum tyme in the
Juwerie, for ouer manere I pursuwide the chirche of God, and faugte agaens it”
Gal 1:13 (Wycliffe 2 nd ed), “For ye han herd my conversacioun sumtyme in the Jurie, and that
Y pursued passyngli the chirche of God, and faugt agen it”
1 Pet 2:12, “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they
slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them,
glorify God in the day of visitation”
Young’s (1862); ERV
(1885); ASV (1901);
NAS (1977)
Translations of the noun avnastrofh.n in 1 Pet 2:12
RSV (1952); HCSB
(2003); NET (2005)
Webster’s (1833)
Verbal Element Lifestyle Emphasis
NIV (1984); GWN
(1995); NLT (2002)
New Jerusalem
(1985)
Conversation Behavior Conduct Manner of life Life/live Behave
and se that ye have
honest conversacion
amonge the getyls that
they which backbyte
you as evyll doars
maye se youre good
workes and prayse god
in the daye of
visitacion.
having your behaviour
among the nations
right, that in that which
they speak against
you as evil-doers, of
the good works having
beheld, they may
glorify God in a day of
inspection.
Maintain good conduct
among the Gentiles, so
that in case they speak
against you as
wrongdoers, they may
see your good deeds
and glorify God on the
day of visitation.
Having your manner of
life honest among the
Gentiles: that,
whereas they speak
against you as evildoers,
they may by
{your} good works,
which they shall
behold, glorify God in
the day of visitation
Live such good lives Always behave
among the pagans honourably among
that, though they
accuse you of doing
wrong, they may see
your good deeds and
glorify God on the day
he visits us
gentiles so that they
can see for themselves
what moral lives you
lead, and when the day
of reckoning comes,
give thanks to God for
the things which now
make them denounce
you as criminals
aq. (68) politeu,omai (2 NT uses), translated “conversation” (KJV); conduct (NAS):
Phil 1:27 (KJV), “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come
and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one
mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”
This verb will not be counted as part of the words describing “evangelism,” because it is likely more
speaking of lifestyle than of verbal communication, for example, the other use of the verb is Acts 23:1
(KJV), “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good
conscience before God until this day”
However, there exists a close link between one’s words (that which comes out of the heart) and one’s
manner of life!
9—METAPHORICAL VERBS FOR EVANGELIZING
ar. Verb dealing with one’s function:
69) presbeu,w (2 NT uses) –to function as an ambassador, 2 Cor 5:20; Eph 6:20:
2 Cor 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we
beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God”
Eph 6:20, “for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I
ought to speak”
Compare with the OT LXX noun pre,sbuj considered above under the Section A, The Person
as. Verbs dealing with fruitfulness:
Some OT precedents:
From the Hebrew asah (do, make) + peri (fruit):
2 Kgs 19:30, “And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward
and bear fruit upward”