Note: This is the fourth in a series of posts on Biblical evangelism. For this and past posts click the "Evangelism Series" label below.
We are continuing to examine the Biblical language that is
used to describe how evangelism is done in the NT. We have already looked at the verb euangelizo, “to evangelize” or “to
preach the gospel.” Now, we will look at
the expression kerusso euangelion with
the verb “to preach [kerusso]” and
the noun object “gospel [euangelion].”
The expression kerusso
euangelion appears eleven times in the NT [eight times in the Gospels and
three times in Paul], according to The
Exhaustive Concordance of the New Testament [NB: this resource is based on the modern critical
text].
Survey of uses:
1.
In Matthew 4:23 it says that Jesus “went about
all Galilee teaching [didasko] in
their synagogues and preaching the gospel [kerusso
euangelion] of the kingdom and healing [therapeuo]
all manner of sickness….”
2.
In Matthew 9:35 (like Matt 4:23) Jesus is
described as “teaching [didasko],” “preaching
the gospel [kerusso euangelion],” and
“healing [therapeuo].”
3.
In
Matthew 24:14 the verb is used in a passive construction, as Jesus states, “And
this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached….”
4.
In
Matthew 26:13 (like Matt 24:14) the verb is used in a passive construction, as
Jesus states, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world.”
5.
In
Mark 1:14 Jesus comes into Galilee “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.”
6.
In
Mark 13:10 Jesus uses the verb in a passive construction: “And the gospel must first be published among
all nations.”
7.
In
Mark 14:9 (like Mark 13:10), Jesus uses the verb in a passive construction,
stating, “Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world.”
8.
In
Mark 16:15 Jesus commissions the eleven to “preach the gospel to every
creature.”
9.
In
Galatians 2:2 Paul explains how he went to Jerusalem to communicate “the gospel
which I preached among the Gentiles.”
10. In Colossians 1:23 Paul urges his readers not
to be moved from “the hope of the gospel [euangelion],
which ye have heard, and which was preached [kerusso]to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am
made a minister [diakonos].”
11. In 1 Thessalonians 1:9 Paul urges the
Thessalonians to remember how “we preached unto you the gospel of God.”
Observations:
The expression “to preach the gospel [kerusso euangelion]” is used to describe how the gospel is
proclaimed in Biblical evangelism. In
the Gospels it is primarily used in reference to the public preaching of
Jesus. In Mark 16:15 (the only place in
the Gospels where the intended preacher is anyone other than Jesus) Jesus commissions the eleven
disciples to “preach the gospel” (cf. the commission “to teach [matheteuo] all nations” in Matthew
28:19). The apostle Paul uses the expression
to describe his own ministry (Gal 2:2; 1 Thess 1:9) for which he had a special
appointment as a servant or minister (see Col 1:23 where diakonos is not used in reference to the office of “deacon” [cf. 1
Tim 3:8, 12; Phil 1:1] but to the office of “minister”).
Though the references are limited, all the usages of the
expression appear to refer to public proclamation or preaching of the gospel
(see the usages in the Gospels as typical).
Those described as “preaching the gospel” are Jesus, the eleven
apostles, and Paul. There are no
references to “preaching the gospel” by non-officers or any commands of “preaching
the gospel” as a general duty of all believers.
There are also no references to “preaching the gospel” as informal or
private communication. This should help
illuminate Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 1:21 that “it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”
It is noteworthy that in modern evangelical life it has
become common to use language that is not explicitly Biblical (like “sharing
the gospel” or “telling the gospel”) which implies more informal communication
rather than explicitly Biblical language (like “preaching the gospel”) to
describe evangelism.
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