CHAPTER 7 Defining Evangelizing - Evangelism Unlimited

Thomas P. Johnston 335
Semantic Study of the Verb “Proclaim” in the NT
The secondary word for verbal proclamation in the NT is the word “proclaim” used 48 times. The verb is
used for the following Greek verbs. The verbs are organized by frequency…
a. khru,ssw (20 uses), Matt 4:23; 9:35; 10:27; Mark 1:45; 5:20; 7:36; Luke 4:18, 19; 8:1, 39; 9:2; 12:3;
24:47; Acts 8:5; 9:20; 10:37; Col 1:23; 1 Thess 2:9; 1 Tim 3:16; Rev 5:2
b. katagge,llw (17 uses), Acts 4:2; 13:5, 38; 15:36; 16:17, 21; 17:3, 13, 23; 26:23; Rom 1:8; 1 Cor 2:1;
9:14; 11:26; Phil 1:17, 18; Col 1:28
c. avpagge,llw (4 times), Matt 12:18; Heb 2:12; 1 John 1:2, 3
d. [supplied] (twice), Luke 16:16; Eph 6:20
e. diagge,llw (twice), Luke 9:60; Rom 9:17
f. evxagge,llw (once), 1 Pet 2:9
g. lale,w (once), Acts 17:19
h. prokhru,ssw (once), Acts 13:24
Semantic Range of the English Verb “Proclaim” in the NT
prokhru,ssw khru,ssw katagge,llw avpagge,llw
(once) (20 uses) (17 uses) (4 uses)
lale,w evxagge,llw diagge,llw [verb supplied]
(6 times) (once) (twice) (twice)
Semantic Study of the Verb “Declare” in the NT
The tertiary word for verbal proclamation in the NT is the word “declare” used 12 times (interestingly used
104 times in the OT—this dispensational differentiation does not appear warranted in the use of the
verbs). 473 The verb is used for the following Greek verbs. The NT verbs for “declare” are organized by
frequency…
a. avnagge,llw (3 times), John 4:25; Acts 20:20, 27
b. avpagge,llw (3 times), Luke 9:47; Acts 26:20; 1 Cor 14:25
c. avpofqe,ggomai (once), Acts 2:14
d. evpiboa,w/boa,w (once), Acts 25:24
e. o`mologe,w (once), Matt 7:23
f. o`ri,zw (once), Rom 1:4
472 “Evangelize: 1) to preach the gospel to; 2) to convert to Christianity” (ibid.).
473 A similar dispensational differentiation has occurred in use of the English word “rebel” and its derivatives,
quite likely because of its relationship to the doctrine of man’s sin and depravity. Out of 131 NASB uses of “rebel*”
(including “rebel,” “rebelled,” “rebellion,” “rebellious,” “rebels”), 126 are in the Old Testament, while only 5 are found
in the New Testament. A thorough study of Hebrew and Greek words is necessary to establish if this dichotomy is
warranted linguistically, or if it derives from a softened approach to the theology of man’s sin in NT translations.
Whereas the 1599 English Geneva has 134 uses of “rebel*” (133 in the OT and 1 NT [Rom 7:23]), the KJV has 98 uses
of “rebel*” (all OT), having removed 35 uses of this polemic term.