Justified
Puritan Board Sophomore
I'm in book four in The Institutes and there Calvin discusses the offices of the Church. I find it particularly strange that he defines Evangelist as, "...those whom, while inferior in rank to the apostles, were next them in office, and even acted as their substitutes" (Institutes, IV.iii.4). He also says it is included in "those three functions were not instituted in the church to be perpetual, but only endure so long as churches were to be formed where none previously existed," yet he also says, "although I deny not, that afterward God occasionally raised up apostles, or at least evangelists, in their stead, as has been done in our time" (Ibid.).
What is Calvin's understanding of an evangelist? Who is he referring to when he says God has raised evangelists up in his day? The Reformers? Is his view correct?
What is Calvin's understanding of an evangelist? Who is he referring to when he says God has raised evangelists up in his day? The Reformers? Is his view correct?