The Presbyterian Quarterly and Princeton Review Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1874 Excerpt: ... ties or prophets; so also the office of evangelist is as distinct from each of the other three. Wherein the distinction lies, will, we hope, be made abundantly clear in the sequel, when we come to examine the duties assigned to the evangelist. Bat even the order of the text cited gives a limit or two which may aid us to form a general and preliminary conception of the office. Of the four offices there enumerated, the first two, viz., the apostolic and prophetic, agree in that both were strictly extraordinary, involving the direct inspiration of the Spirit of God, and could not therefore be bestowed on any one by any human instrumentality. On the other hand, the office of evangelist, and that of pastor and teacher, involved no such special inspiration., and was conferred mediately, through apostolic, evangelistic, or presbyterial ordination. We may trace a second analogy between the individuals of these groups, which will further aid us in forming a distinct conception of the office in question. The apostles and evangelists, the one inspired, the other uninspired, agree in this, that their ministry was general and not local; first to the world, and then to the church at large. The ministry of the New Testament " prophets," and that of the "pastors and teachers," on the other hand, appears to have been a ministry in and to local churches. The apostles were inspired evangelists, the prophets inspired teachers. In 1 Cor. xii. 28, a similar list is given, but of the offices as involving certain charismata. This list, beginning like that in Eph. iv. with apostles and prophets, passed thirdly to teachers, omitting any mention of the evangelist. This omission may, however, be easily explained; for both evangelists and pastors are teachers, these of the local church...