The word "evangelize" is spelled with the letter "z" at the end instead of an "s", which is a common source of confusion. In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is /ɪˈvændʒəlaɪz/ with the final sound being a voiced "z" (/z/) rather than an unvoiced "s" (/s/). This word means to preach the gospel or share one's religious beliefs in an effort to convert others. It is commonly used in Christian contexts but can also be applied more broadly to any situation where someone is actively promoting an idea or belief.
Evangelize is a verb that refers to the act of spreading, promoting, or advocating a particular religious or ideological belief, especially with the intention of converting others to that belief. The word has its roots in the Greek word "euangelizesthai," which means to bring good news or to announce something as good news. This term is often associated with Christian theology and practices, though it can be used in a broader context as well.
In religious contexts, to evangelize often involves sharing the teachings and message of Jesus Christ, involving acts of preaching, teaching, and witnessing one's faith to others. It emphasizes the desire to share the "good news" of salvation and eternal life to those who have not yet accepted it. Evangelizing may also include acts of outreach, organizing events, or distributing religious literature to promote and invite others to join in the faith.
In a more general sense, the term can be applied to any effort to spread or promote an idea, doctrine, or cause. People may evangelize political beliefs, social causes, or even products and services. This can be done through various means such as public speaking, media campaigns, or interpersonal communication to persuade and gather support for the cause. However, the term is more commonly associated with religious or spiritual contexts due to its historical and traditional usage within faith communities.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "evangelize" derives from the Greek word "euangelizesthai", which means "to bring good news" or "to announce the gospel". The term "euangelizesthai" is derived from two Greek words, "euangelion" meaning "good news" or "gospel", and "angelos" meaning "messenger" or "one who brings tidings". Over time, "euangelizesthai" evolved into "evangelizare" in Late Latin, then into "evangelize" in Old English, maintaining its fundamental meaning of spreading the good news or proclaiming the gospel.