QUESTION: What are the differences in the five gifts described in Ephesians 4?

ANSWER: Ephesians 4:11,12 describe those five gifts: "And He [the ascended Christ] gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

In two previous issues we looked at the gift of apostles and prophets. Now we will notice the gift of an evangelist. An evangelist, as the very name suggests, is "a messenger of good news." This good news is found in the gospel of Jesus Christ, God's Son. This good news includes the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

Evangelists are used by God to:

1. Awaken careless and indifferent people to their need of a Saviour (Acts 17:30).

2. Proclaim how God has met that need through His Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 13:38,39).

3. Warn people of the coming judgment for those who neglect or reject God's offer of salvation (Acts 13:40,41; 17:31).

Although all Christians should be able and eager to tell others what Christ has done for them (Mark 5:19), not all are called to be evangelists. It is a distinct gift given by the ascended Christ to some of His servants.

The Scriptures have more to say about evangelists:

1. Their calling. They are sent by a risen, ascended Lord, "HE GAVE … some evangelists" (Eph. 4:11).

2. Their training. "I will make you fishers of men" (Matt. 4:19). Though the Lord may be pleased to use others to impart knowledge, it is from time spent alone with the Lord that the evangelist is equipped to do the work of the Lord. "They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13).

3. Their field of work. The evangelist (along with pastors and teachers) receives directions for his work from the Lord alone. It is through the Holy Spirit that the Lord guides His servants where to go, when to go and what to preach. This is seen very clearly in Acts 8:5-8; 26-40; 13:4; 16:6-10. There was no central place of authority from which the evangelists received their instructions. Even when the apostle Paul desired Apollos to come to Corinth we find that Apollos did not feel led to go at that time (1 Cor. 16:12).

—John D. McNeil