Note 5 at Col. 4:4: Paul's intent was to make the gospel manifest, i.e., to make it clearly apparent to men's understanding. In Jesus' parable of the sower sowing the Word (Mt. 13:1-23; Mk. 4:3-25; Lk. 8:5-18) it is only those who understand the gospel of the kingdom that go on to bring forth fruit (Mt. 13:19, 23). Therefore, it constrains us to be as clear in our presentation of the gospel as possible. Paul said that's the way it ought to be.

Note 6 at Col. 4:4: Paul's intent was to make the gospel known. Yet Paul was in prison. One of the great mistakes of the modern church is to think that evangelism is something done within the four walls of the church building.

Acts 8:1-4 makes it apparent that evangelism was not done by the pastor or clergy but by believers that went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4). Ephesians 4 makes it plain that the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher are to prepare the saints to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).

Some methods of evangelism mentioned in scripture are: (1) house to house evangelism - "...and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ" (Acts 5:42); (2) personal one-on-one evangelism - Philip ministered to the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-38), Paul to Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:7), Jesus to Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the thief on the cross, and others. There are around 35 such instances recorded in the Gospels alone; (3) evangelism to large crowds - Peter ministered to the crowds in Jerusalem at Pentecost (Acts 2) and Paul at Lystra (Acts 14:8-18);

(4) evangelism to entire cities - "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them" (Acts 8:5); (5) public debate and preaching - Paul disputed in synagogues and market places (Acts 17:17), Peter and John preached in the temple (Acts 3:11-26), Paul declared, "And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you PUBLICKLY and from HOUSE TO HOUSE, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 20:20-21); (6) tract evangelism - the first tract evangelism with ink and pen are the Gospels. John in his gospel stated, "these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name" (Jn. 20:31).