The term "itinerant" refers to individuals who travel from place to place, often for the purpose of preaching, teaching, or spreading religious messages. In the context of the Bible, itinerant figures are those who do not remain in one location but move throughout regions to fulfill their divine missions. This concept is significant in both the Old and New Testaments, where various individuals are depicted as itinerant messengers of God's word.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, prophets often assumed itinerant roles, traveling to deliver God's messages to different communities. For example, Elijah is depicted as an itinerant prophet who moved throughout Israel to confront idolatry and call the people back to the worship of Yahweh. His journeys included significant events such as his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18) and his travels to Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19).

New Testament Context

The New Testament provides a more explicit depiction of itinerant ministry, particularly through the life and mission of Jesus Christ and His apostles. Jesus Himself was an itinerant preacher, traveling throughout Galilee, Judea, and surrounding regions to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The Gospel of Matthew records, "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people" (Matthew 4:23).

The apostles continued this itinerant tradition after Jesus' ascension. The Book of Acts details the missionary journeys of Paul, who traveled extensively across the Roman Empire to establish churches and strengthen believers. Acts 13:2-3 describes the Holy Spirit's call for Paul and Barnabas to embark on their missionary work: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Characteristics of Itinerant Ministry

Itinerant ministry in the Bible is characterized by several key elements:

1. Divine Calling: Itinerant ministers are often depicted as being called by God to their mission. This calling is accompanied by a sense of urgency and purpose, as seen in the lives of the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles.

2. Dependence on God: Itinerant ministers frequently rely on God's provision and guidance. Jesus instructed His disciples to travel light, trusting in God's provision through the hospitality of others (Matthew 10:9-10).

3. Proclamation of the Word: The primary focus of itinerant ministry is the proclamation of God's word. This includes preaching, teaching, and performing signs and wonders to authenticate the message.

4. Perseverance Amidst Opposition: Itinerant ministers often face opposition and persecution. The apostle Paul, for example, endured numerous hardships, including imprisonment and physical assaults, yet remained steadfast in his mission (2 Corinthians 11:23-27).

Legacy and Influence

The itinerant model of ministry established in the Bible has had a lasting impact on Christian missions throughout history. The commitment to spreading the Gospel beyond local boundaries has inspired countless missionaries and evangelists to take up the call to itinerant ministry, continuing the work of the early church in reaching the ends of the earth with the message of salvation.1. (a.) Wandering; not settled; as, an itinerant preacher; an itinerant peddler.

2. (a.) One who travels from place to place, particularly a preacher; one who is unsettled.

The Maritime Itinerant.
... III. THE MARITIME ITINERANT. The population of Nova Scotia in 1781 numbered
twelve thousand, of whom there were about one hundred ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclean/william black/iii the maritime itinerant.htm

An Account of the General Conference of 1796
... With such prospects before them, many, as before stated, were induced to forsake
the itinerant field, in the hope of providing more adequately for themselves ...
/.../chapter 2 an account of.htm

John Wesley.
... Not content with his itinerant laborers, he called into use the less available powers
of his people by establishing the new departments of local preachers ...
//christianbookshelf.org/hayward/the book of religions/john wesley.htm

About Adam Clarke
... When it is recalled that all this work was done while Clarke was a busy, itinerant
Wesleyan preacher who never had an hour's secretarial help in his life, it ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clarke/entire sanctification/about adam clarke.htm

An Alphabetical List of ME Preachers
... Along with the names of those who were yet in the itinerant ministry in
1840, the year in with they were received is shown. With ...
/.../bangs/an alphabetical list of m e preachers/title page.htm

Support of Prophets.
... The itinerant prophets might become stationary, we infer. Chaps. ... point to a movement
from an itinerant and extraordinary ministry to a more settled one. ...
/.../various/the teaching of the twelve apostles/chapter xiii name of prophets.htm

The Second and Third General Epistles of John
... The writer, addressing Gajus, sincerely wishes that he may prosper, as his soul
prospereth, 1-3. He commends him for receiving the itinerant preachers, though ...
/.../drummond/introduction to the new testament/the second and third general.htm

Blind Bartimeus
... But however, our Lord's practice, in this respect, gives a kind of a sanction to
itinerant preaching, when persons are properly called to, and qualified for ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/blind bartimeus.htm

Olivers
... Olivers. Olivers, Thomas, one of [94]Mr. Wesley's itinerant ministers, was born
in Tregoman, Wales, in 1725. Early in life he was left an orphan. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/olivers.htm

Wesley
... Nor was he a singer alone, but as an itinerant preacher he was a busy and
earnest colaborer with his brother John. After his marriage ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/wesley.htm

Itinerant (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (a.) Wandering; not settled; as, an itinerant preacher;
an itinerant peddler. ... Multi-Version Concordance Itinerant (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/itinerant.htm - 7k

Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
... They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry
the gospel to places where it was previously unknown. ...
/e/evangelist.htm - 23k

Invoke (13 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/i/invoke.htm - 10k

Itis (1 Occurrence)

/i/itis.htm - 6k

Ithrites (1 Occurrence)

/i/ithrites.htm - 6k

Exorcists (1 Occurrence)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/e/exorcists.htm - 6k

Demon-possessed (16 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/d/demon-possessed.htm - 10k

Merchandise (34 Occurrences)
... i) gomos, "merchandise," margin "cargo." (2) The process of trade itself, ie the
business: rekhullah has in it the root meaning of "itinerant trading", and so ...
/m/merchandise.htm - 22k

Preaches (6 Occurrences)
... Acts 19:13 But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke
over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, "We ...
/p/preaches.htm - 8k

Pastoral
... When Timothy and Titus received these epistles they were not acting, as they had
previously done, as missionaries or itinerant evangelists, but had been left ...
/p/pastoral.htm - 39k

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