CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 333
Notice, for example, notice several uses of the word “shew” in the KJV:
Gen 12:1, “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from
thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew [Heb ra’ah: Gk δείκνυμι] thee”
The basic meaning of the Hebrew verb ra’ah is to see or be seen; in the Hiphil stem, as in this verse, ra’ah
means “to show or exhibit”
The basic meaning of the Greek verb δείκνυμι is “to show” (as God showed Moses the promised land in
Deut 34:1)
Deut 34:1, “And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that
is over against Jericho. And the LORD shewed [Heb ra’ah: Gk δείκνυμι] him all the land of Gilead, unto
Dan”
Same verbs used in Greek and Hebrew, same stem in Hebrew.
2. A Study of Sample Proclamational Terms in the New American Standard:
Intro: Comparing uses of euvaggeli,zw and khru,ssw in the Greek:
Possible Semantic Ranges of euvaggeli,zw and khru,ssw
[both of which are translated “preach”]
euvaggeli,zw khru,ssw
[evangelism?] [homiletics?]
(54 uses) (61 uses)
A B C
What if these words were in some way referring to evangelism or homiletics?
Comparing Evangelism and Homiletics
evangelism homiletics
Rather than being fearful of unleashing the term “evangelize” in the Bible (as my friend
mentioned above), if there were a clear translation of the biblical term “evangelize” in English (as in
the HCS, except all or most of the 54 uses), it would allow for better theological and methodological
speed>; 6 a : to point out : direct attention to ; b : conduct, usher ; 7 : accord; bestow ; 8 a : to set forth : declare b : allege; plead -- used
especially in law ; 9 a : to demonstrate or establish by argument or reasoning ;
b : inform, instruct ; 10 : to present (an animal) for judging in a show;
intransitive verb; 1 a : to be or come in view ; b : to put in an appearance ;
2 a : to appear in a particular way ; b : seem, appear: 3 a : to give a theatrical
performance; b : to be staged or presented; 4 a : to appear as a contestant; b : to present an animal in a show; 5 : to
finish third or at least third (as in a horse race); 6 : to exhibit one's artistic work” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary online;
available at http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/show; accessed 3 Feb 2007; Internet).