CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

334 Evangelizology
examination, as evangelism is normally practiced by less educated mother-tongue-only [Englishonly]
Bible-reading practitioners.
In order to properly understand what we do read in the English Bible, I will examine the use of
various proclamational verbs, as exemplified in the New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition
(1995)—NASB…
Semantic Study of the Verb “Preach” in the NT
Notice the variety of Greek verbs translated “preach” in the NASB. It would seem that the word “preach” has
been overused by English translators to the detriment of other verbs available in English, such as
“evangelize.” The English verb “preach” is the primary term in the New Testament, found 104 times to
translate the following Greek verbs (descending order of use):
a. euvaggeli,zw (50 uses), Matt 11:5; Luke 3:18; 4:18; 4:43; 7:22; 8:1; 9:6; 16:16; 20:1; Acts 5:42; 8:4,
12, 25, 35, 40; 10:36; 11:20; 13:32; 14:7, 15, 21; 15:35; 16:10; 17:18; Rom 1:15; 15:20; 1 Cor 1:17;
9:16 (twice), 18; 15:1, 2; 2 Cor 10:16; 11:7; Gal 1:8 (twice), 9, 11, 16, 23; 4:13; Eph 2:17; 3:8; Heb
4:2, 6; 1 Pet 1:12, 25; 4:6; Rev 10:7; 14:6
b. khru,ssw (40 uses), Matt 3:1; 4:17; 10:7; 11:1; 24:14; 26:13; Mark 1:4, 7, 14, 38, 39; 3:14; 6:12;
13:10; 14:9; 16:15, 20; Luke 3:3; 4:44; Acts 10:42; 15:21; 19:13; 20:25; 28:31; Rom 2:21; 10:8, 14,
15; 1 Cor 1:23; 9:27; 15:11, 12; 2 Cor 1:19; 4:5; 11:4 (twice); Gal 2:2; 5:11; Phil 1:15; 2 Tim 4:2
c. kh,rugma (6 uses), Matt 12:41; Luke 11:32; Rom 16:25; 1 Cor 1:21; 2:4; 15:14
d. [verb supplied] (3 uses), Rom 1:9; Phil 4:15; Col 1:25
e. lo,goj (once), 1 Tim 5:17
f. dida,skw (once), Acts 21:28
g. parakale,w (once) 1 Tim 6:2
h. plhro,w (once), Rom 15:19
i. proeuaggeli,zomai, (once), Gal 3:8.
Semantic Range of the English Verb “Preach” in the NT
parakale,w khru,ssw euvaggeli,zw proeuaggeli,zomai
(once) (40 uses) (50 uses) (once)
lo,goj kh,rugma dida,skw plhro,w [verb supplied]
(once) (6 uses) (once) (once) (3 uses)
Conclusion: The verb “evangelize” is behind almost half (50/104) the English verbs “preach” in the
NASB, and the verb “preach” (khru,ssw) is behind 40/104.
The confusion to the English reader is obvious, as they understand “preaching” in the formal
sense of homiletics (inside the church by ordained clergy to an audience quietly sitting in pews), 470
rather than the informal sense of “evangelism” 471 or “evangelize.” 472
470Note Webster’s semantic range of the English verb, preach: “1) to deliver a sermon; 2) to urge acceptance
or abandonment of an idea or course of action; 3) to deliver (as a sermon) publicly; 4) to bring, put, or affect by
preaching” (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, 1977).
471 “Evangelism: 1) the winning or revival of personal commitments to Christ; 2) militant or crusading zeal”
(ibid.).