Thus far it has been established that the organization of the Lord’s church (the church discussed in the New Testament) is composed of Jesus, the apostles, prophets, bishops, deacons, and teachers. There is however, one more group to be added to this list, and that is written, "…God gave some to be evangelists." (Ephesians 4:11)

The scriptures say Phillip and Timothy were evangelists (Acts 21:8 and II Timothy 4:5). Likewise, both of these men were gospel preachers (Acts 8:5-13 and II Timothy 4:2). Paul in II Corinthians 3:4-6 refers to those who preach the gospel as ministers. Then too, those who declare the gospel also are called preachers (I Timothy 2:7; II Timothy 1:11; and Romans 10:14). An evangelist is one who preaches the gospel of Christ and any that publicly proclaim the gospel of Christ may be referred to as evangelists, ministers, or preachers.

No! In Ephesians 4:11 it is recorded, "…God gave some to be evangelists and some to be pastors." This means pastors and evangelists aren’t the same. The word pastors as used in this passage means those who with oversight, therefore they are elders or bishops (Acts 20:17; Acts 20:28; I Peter 5:1-4; and Titus 1:5-7).

This is why none of the inspired writers of the New Testament ever associated the word pastor with even one of their referenced New Testament ministers. It was mankind, many generations later, and not God who decided ministers should be called pastors.

No! It is written, "…holy and reverend is God’s name" (Psalm 111:9) but isn’t written in any New Testament scripture that this term should apply to any minister. After reading the entire New Testament multiple times one will never read about Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, James, or Jude being called or referred to a pastor. Neither is there a scripture in which the word reverend precedes the name of any of these first century evangelists.

Some say that calling a minister either reverend or pastor is merely a way of showing them respect, acknowledging that they are godly men with a serious responsibility. The scriptures teach, and that it what matters, that Christians are to manifest the proper respect toward all (Ephesians 6:2; I Peter 2:17; I Peter 3:7; and I Timothy 5:17; Romans 13:1-7). The scriptures also warn against bestowing too much honor upon men (Matthew 10:37; Acts 4:18-19; Acts 5:27-29; I Corinthians 1:10-13; I Corinthians 1:27-30; and I Corinthians 4:1-6). The key is mentioned in Romans 13:7 which states "…Render unto all honor to whom honor is due." There is to be no honor bestowed upon man nor received by man, which has not been granted by the Lord (Hebrews 5:4). It is God and him only whose name is holy and reverend (Psalm 111:9). God ordained elders who he recognizes as pastors (those feeding the flock with oversight).

If one were to assume calling a preacher merely by their first name is disrespectful, one would have to answer the following question. Was it disrespectful for Paul to call Peter, James, and John by their name (Galatians 2:9)?

No! There is not a single scripture that says they have been given authority to do anything but preach the gospel. The evangelist, just as the teacher, has been given a place in the organization of the church to serve as assistants to the elders/bishops.

No! A minister is one who preaches the gospel to any and all groups and is the designated teacher (either by the elders or the men of a congregation if no one fulfils the qualifications for elder). As already proven, a woman is not allowed to serve as the designated teacher of a group composed of both men and women (I Corinthians 14:34 and I Timothy 2:12). She could serve as the designated teacher of a women’s Bible class for the church either at the building or in her home, but she may not serve in the capacity of minister. We read only about men being referred to as evangelists (Acts 21:8 and II Timothy 4:5), ministers (I Corinthians 3:5-6; Colossians 1:7; Colossians 1:23-24; Ephesians 37; and I Timothy 4:6), and preachers (I Timothy 2:7 and Timothy 1:11). There are no scriptures that refer to a woman being called an evangelist, minister, or preacher. All the sermons recorded in the New Testament were preached by men for the same reason (Acts 2:14-40; Acts 3:9-26; Acts 7:1-53; Acts 10: 34-48; Acts 13:15-41; Acts 17:22-34; and Acts 26:1-30).

No! Speaking and writing are the two primary ways by which information is passed from one person to another. As already discussed, if God will not suffer a woman to be the designated teacher by speaking, how would it be any different if she wrote the message and others delivered it?

How does a woman become the designated speaker (teacher) whom God has outlawed? When she stands before a group of men and women as the speaker isn’t she in fact teaching and usurping authority over the entire audience? How is this different if the woman teaches over men and women, not by speaking but rather by the written word? By writing an article, tract, book, or any type of study material for the purpose of instructing men and women, the person authoring the material is the designated teacher. Remember that God does not say, "…I suffer not a woman to teach over a man…" (I Timothy 2:12) by speaking. He simply said that a woman wasn’t to teach over a man. Speaking or writing, if teaching is the primary purpose, what is the difference? A woman cannot write lessons for the church and teach them to men and women any more than she can publicly speak to them from the pulpit.

Men teaching the gospel by speaking to groups composed of both men and women may be called preachers and it may be said that they are preaching the gospel. Even so those who teach the gospel by writing may also be called preachers, and it may be said also about them that they are preaching the gospel as well.

All people that think women should be evangelists should remember one very basic fact about both the Old and New Testament. All the writers throughout the scriptures were men, not a single woman is included in the penning of God’s law (I Timothy 2:12). Indeed God wants and desperately needs Christian women to teach his word, but for reasons that are his alone, he has specified that they may not teach over a man (I Timothy 2:12-14) and may therefore, not serve in the capacity of an evangelist.

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