EVANGELISTS (5)a-ryeX4crral). This term is applied in the N. T. to a certain class of Christian teachers who were not fixed to any particular spot, but travelled either independently, or under the direction of one or other of the Apostles, for the purpose of propagating the Gospel. Philip, one of the seven deacons, is termed the Evangelist (Acts xxi. 8). St. Paul exhorts Timothy ' to do the work of an Evangelist' (2 Tim. iv. 5) ; and though this name is not given to Titus, the injunctions addressed to him, and the services he rendered, are so similar as to render the propriety of applying it to bins unquestionable. In the Epistle to the Ephesians (iv. 11) the EktrycX/crrcts (Evangelists) are ex pressly distinguished from the sal &Sac sawn (pastors and teachers). The chief points of difference appear to be that the former were itine• rant, the latter stationary ; the former were em ployed in introducing the Gospel where it was before unknown ; the business of the latter was to confirm and instruct the converts statedly and permanently. Such is the representation given by Eusebius (Hist. Eccles. iii. 37). Referring to the state of the church in the time of Trajan, he says, • Many of the disciples of that time, whose souls the Divine word had inspired with an ardent love of philosophy, first fulfilled our Saviour's precept by distributing their substance among the poor.
Then travelling abroad they performed the work of Evangelists (fryov brereXouv EbaryeXecrriDv), being ambitious to preach Christ, and deliver the Scripture of the Divine Gospels. Having laid the foundations of the faith in foreign nations, they appointed other pastors (irolgevas icatharcirres to whom they entrusted the cultivation of the parts they had recently occupied, while they proceeded to other countries and nations.' He elsewhere speaks of Pantenus and others as Evan gelists of the Won' (Eiia-y-yeXto-rat ro12X6'yoy, Hist. Eccles. v. so). In the same writer the term Evan gelist is also applied, as at present, to the authors of the canonical gospels (Hist. Eccles. iii. 39). (Campbell's Lectures on Ecclesiastical History, vol. i. pp. 14S-150 ; Neander's History of the Planting of theChristian Church, Eng. transl., vol. i. p. 173). —J. E. R.