What is the Work of an Evangelist? (2 Timothy 4:5)

What is an evangelist? What does it mean to do the work of an evangelist?
2 Timothy 4:5 says: As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The word “evangelist” comes from the Greek word [euangelistḗs], which means “proclaimer of the gospel” or “a bringer of good tidings”.

In context Paul writes to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 by saying: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

3 Works of an Evangelist

1. The work of an evangelist is to proclaim the true gospel
There are many false gospels that exist in religion. Examples of false gospels include the prosperity gospel, word of faith theology, salvation through works and universalism. All these false gospel distort or deny the work of Jesus on the Cross. They also distort the true nature and character of Jesus Christ.

Therefore the work of an evangelist is to proclaim the true gospel of Jesus Christ instead of promoting and teaching a false gospel.

The true gospel or good tidings is Biblically defined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 which says: Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you— unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

So the main purpose of an evangelist is to proclaim, teach and explain the gospel of Jesus Christ in relation to His life, death and resurrection in order to save mankind from the power of sin and eternally reconcile man to God.

So the gospel which a true evangelist must proclaim pertains to Jesus Christ and the good news that Jesus offers salvation as a free gift by grace through faith to anyone who would believe in Him as Lord and Saviour (Ephesians 2:8-9).

2. The work of an evangelist is to preach in season & out of season
Prior to instructing Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist”, Paul encourages Timothy to “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).

This means that an evangelist should be ready to share the gospel at all times and in any situation. The gospel is not limited to the pulpit or stage in a church building. Instead the gospel can be preached in the streets, in the workplace, on the internet, in the prisons or any place where people will lend an ear.

The gospel is meant to be preached to any person irrespective of gender, race or nationality.
Mark 16:15: And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

So an evangelist to be ready to share the gospel at all times, at any place and to anyone.

3. The work of an evangelist is to reprove, rebuke, and exhort
Whilst sharing the gospel, an evangelist will always encounter people with differing views regarding Christianity or the true gospel. An evangelist will always encounter people who abide by false doctrines.

This is why Paul informs Timothy to do the following: “… reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4)

Therefore one of the roles of an evangelist when sharing the gospel is to teach, correct, encourage and contend for the faith. So despite many people believing in false ideologies, it is the purpose of the evangelist to point people to the saving work of Jesus on the Cross so that people may repent and have a saving relationship with Christ.

Conclusion

The evangelist is never afraid to share the gospel (Romans 1:16). The evangelist understands that his role is to participate in fulfilling the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20).
The evangelist is one who proclaims the gospel and sound doctrine whilst defending against heretical teachings which attack Jesus Christ and the Cross.
The evangelist has conviction that the true gospel is the one that saves people and leads them to eternal life through Jesus Christ who paid for our sins on the cross and resurrected on the third day.