EVANGELIST

(the bringer of good tidings, preacher of the Gospel), a term used in the New Testament, signifying an official of the Christian Church, whose chief duties seem jto have been those of @ mi ionary and pioneer, carrying the Gospel me age to new places and preparing the way for organising work which was to follow. The E. is not Scie paee pee connected with any local eld of work, nor is he devoted to the usual service of the pastorate, his work is of an itinerary rather than a local nature. ‘Thus Philip of Caesarea and Timothy of Ephesus are called Es. The was also used in post-apostolic times for those who read and explained the written Gospels in public worship, but though this has continued to be its distinctive meaning, the official name is more often used to-day in its earlier sense and has been transferred to the writers of the four Gospels.