Evangelism is the proclamation of the euangelion — the good news that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for sinners and rose from the dead, and that all who repent and believe receive forgiveness and eternal life. It is not primarily a method, program, or personality trait — it is the faithful announcement of a specific message. The Great Commission (Matt 28:18–20) makes evangelism the mandate of the entire church: go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. Evangelism in the New Testament is inseparable from the full gospel — it includes the bad news of sin and judgment (which makes the good news good) as well as the call to repentance and faith, not merely a positive experience of God.
EVANGELISM, n. The promulgation of the gospel; the work of preaching and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. An evangelist is one of the four writers of the history of Jesus Christ; also a preacher of the gospel who is not a settled pastor.
Modern evangelism has been gutted in two directions. The first strips the message: "friendship evangelism" becomes friendship without a message; "lifestyle evangelism" becomes living nicely without ever speaking. As D.T. Niles said, "Evangelism is one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread" — but today's beggar is embarrassed to point to the bread. The second corruption inflates the method: high-pressure altar calls, emotional manipulation, and decision-driven approaches that produce false assurance without genuine regeneration. Both errors betray the biblical pattern: boldly, clearly, lovingly announcing the specific content of the gospel and calling people to repentance and faith.
Matthew 28:19–20 — The Great Commission: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…"
Romans 1:16 — "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes."
Romans 10:14–15 — "How are they to hear without someone preaching? … Beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news."
Acts 1:8 — "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem… and to the end of the earth."
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 — The content of the gospel: Christ died for sins, was buried, and rose on the third day according to the Scriptures.
G2098 — εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion): good news, glad tidings; the gospel. Used 76 times in the NT. In the Roman world, an euangelion announced a military victory or the birth of an emperor — Paul deliberately uses this political term for the announcement of a new King.
G2099 — εὐαγγελιστής (euangelistēs): evangelist, one who proclaims good news; appears in Acts 21:8, Eph 4:11, and 2 Tim 4:5.
"Evangelism is not an optional spiritual gift for the extroverted — it is the mission of the entire church, expressed through every member's words and life."
"The Apostle Paul's evangelism in Acts always included the resurrection (Acts 17:31) — a fact that could be checked — not merely an emotional appeal."
"Men who have been truly delivered have a natural desire to tell others where they found freedom. Evangelism flows from gratitude, not obligation."