Ephesians 4:11, “It was he who gave some to be (1) apostles, some to be (2) prophets, some to be (3) evangelists, and some to be (4) pastors and (5) teachers.”
We know that today we have evangelists, pastors and teachers. the New Testament is full of instruction and encouragement for all three ministries, especially from the Apostle Paul. What does the NT say specifically about prophets and apostles?
If the NT speaks, it should settle the matter.
Go for it. 🙂
The Battle Cry 
Actually, I would disagree with your assumption that evangelists are still ‘for today’. These are gifts Paul is talking about. You assume you know what an evangelist is, but historically ‘evangelists’ have been seen as assistants to the Apostles. The Apostles are no more, so evangelists are no more (same reason why prophets are no more). Scripture has ceased with the death of the Apostles. Perhaps the modern notion of missionaries or ‘revival preachers’ should be rethought in this light because it seems current ‘christian’ culture has now brought back on to the text something which is not meant.
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Andrew,
I understand your point, however, given that ‘evangelist’ has a bit broader scriptural definition than Apostles’ assistants, I defer to scripture rather than commentaries, no matter how much I personally like and respect both of the ones you sited.
My ‘assumption’ stands based on the wider scriptural definition and use of both the term evangelist (used 3 times), and evangelize (used in various ways 55 times).
We do have biblical evangelists today, however as you said, we do not have Apostles’ ‘assistants’.Does the NT actually refer to them that way, or is is read into the context.
However, that is neirhter here nor there, since the questions was not about evangelists. Perhaps another post, but perhaps not. 🙂
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If we change the definitions of Apostle, prophet, etc., then we can claim that they remain as offices in the Church today. A lot of people have done that. They would say that an Apostle is a church planter, a prophet is the same thing as a pastor, and an evangelist is – well, an evangelist or evangelistic preacher.
But one really does have to change the Biblical definitions of those terms in order to justify saying that the roles are still active in today’s church.
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I agree, Robin, but that’s beside the point? From what I read in scripture, the offices of Prophet and Apostle have been fulfilled,while we still have evangelists in the broad sense of a messenger of the evangel, the good news, pastors and teachers.
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Do we have ‘evangelists’ in the Biblical sense? One’s that hold an office of evangelist. Ephesians 4:11 is referring to offices instituted by Christ. Perhaps you should be so kind as to publish here the three verses that speak of an ‘evangelist’ and we can look at the context and see if you are correct.
We must also conclude that just because someone evangelizes doesn’t make one an ‘evangelist’ in the Biblical sense. Every Christian is to ‘evangelize’ but I am not at all convinced that every Christian should hold the office of an ‘evangelist’ because of that reason.
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Eph 4:11 is an extension of the context of ‘gifts’ to the church to equip he saints for service in the church. that is the context, and not proclaiming of ‘offices’ in the physical organization of a local church. That’s all I have to say on the matter, since context, after all important.
That is the intended context of this post also. The underlying thought is the false “Dominion” theology that seems to be running around ‘evangelical’ circiles these days.this the specific question that was asked.
Comments to the question are encouraged and welcome.
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