--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: USE WORDS IF NECESSARY The popular saying…" description: "\"“USE WORDS IF NECESSARY The popular saying “Preach the gospel; use words if necessary” is helpful but also misleading. If the gospel were primarily abo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/timothy-keller-240_christianity_use-words-if-necessary-the-popular-sayin_1572989.png" --- # USE WORDS IF NECESSARY The popular saying “Preach the… ![“USE WORDS IF NECESSARY The popular saying “Preach the gospel; use words if necessary” is helpful but also misleading. If the gospel were primarily about what we must do to be saved, it could be communicated as well by actions (to be imitated) as by words. But if the gospel is primarily about what…” quote by Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/timothy-keller-240_christianity_use-words-if-necessary-the-popular-sayin_1572989.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/timothy-keller-240_christianity_use-words-if-necessary-the-popular-sayin_1572989.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/87d/timothy-keller-240_christianity_use-words-if-necessary-the-popular-sayin_1572989.png) > ““USE WORDS IF NECESSARY The popular saying “Preach the gospel; use words if necessary” is helpful but also misleading. If the gospel were primarily about what we must do to be saved, it could be communicated as well by actions (to be imitated) as by words. But if the gospel is primarily about what God has done to save us, and how we can receive it through faith, it can only be expressed through words. Faith cannot come without hearing. This is why we read in Galatians 2:5 that heresy endangers the truth of the gospel, and why Philippians 1:16 declares that a person’s mind must be persuaded of the truth of the gospel. Ephesians 1:13 also asserts that the gospel is the word of truth. Ephesians 6:19 and Colossians 1:23 teach that we advance the gospel through verbal communication, particularly preaching.”” [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The gospel’s core truth about God’s saving work must be communicated verbally because faith originates from hearing the word. **In simple terms:** Faith needs hearing; words convey the gospel. Key Takeaway Share the gospel through spoken proclamation. Themes faith communication gospel evangelism Mood serious hopeful Type theological evangelical When to use this quote - church services - personal evangelism - mission trips - Bible study groups Key Concepts theology spirituality persuasion Questions to Reflect On - How does spoken word impact belief compared to actions? - What role does relational trust play in hearing the gospel? A Different Perspective Words alone may not change hearts without genuine love and relational trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Gospel Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-use-1167414/) [Gospel Verbal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gospel-verbal-5925746/) [Preach Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preach-gospel/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Saying Preach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saying-preach-4125664/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Verbal communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/verbal-communication/) [Words Gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-gospel-1328630/) ## Related quotes > [“In 2 Timothy 4:2–4, Paul the Apostle warned us of the consequences of being ashamed to preach the gospel, saying, “Preach the word; be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/in-2-timothy-4-2-4-paul-the-apostle-warned-us-of-the-consequences-of/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Saying 'Preach the Gospel Daily, use words if necessary' is like saying 'Feed the hungry, use food if necessary.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ligon-duncan/saying-preach-the-gospel-daily-use-words-if-necessary-is-like-saying/) [Ligon Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ligon-duncan/) > [Go out and preach the gospel and if you must, use words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-of-assisi/go-out-and-preach-the-gospel-and-if-you-must-use-words/) [Francis of Assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-of-assisi/) > [“Preach the Gospel, use words when necessary.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-francis-of-assisi/preach-the-gospel-use-words-when-necessary/) [St. Francis of assisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-francis-of-assisi/) > [The grinding power of the plain words of the Gospel story is like the power of mill-stones, and those who can read them simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-grinding-power-of-the-plain-words-of-the-gospel-story-is-like-the/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“The gospel is made use of in this affair: this light is the “light of the glorious gospel of Christ,” 2 Cor. iv. 4.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-edwards/the-gospel-is-made-use-of-in-this-affair-this-light-is-the-light-of/) [Jonathan Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-edwards/) > [To preach the gospel is to show people their need for salvation against a backdrop of God's nature and the character of sin, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/to-preach-the-gospel-is-to-show-people-their-need-for-salvation/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“If we just preach general doctrine and ethics from Scripture, we are not preaching the gospel. The gospel is the good news that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-we-just-preach-general-doctrine-and-ethics-from-scripture-we-are/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The most important way to gain a hearing from postmodern people, confront nominal Christians, wake up “sleepy” Christians, and even delight committed Christians —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-most-important-way-to-gain-a-hearing-from-postmodern-people/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“A simple handshake is not always a simple handshake. The way it is delivered can take on a million meanings and interpretations. As with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/a-simple-handshake-is-not-always-a-simple-handshake-the-way-it-is/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [There must be a reason why photographers are not very good at verbal communication. I think we get lazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/there-must-be-a-reason-why-photographers-are-not-very-good-at-verbal/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [When the eyes say one thing, and the tongue another, a practiced man relies on the language of the first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/when-the-eyes-say-one-thing-and-the-tongue-another-a-practiced-man/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [If man has been kicked up out of that which is only impersonal by chance , then those things that make him man-hope of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-schaeffer/if-man-has-been-kicked-up-out-of-that-which-is-only-impersonal-by/) [Francis Schaeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-schaeffer/) > [Language can be a way of hiding your thoughts and preventing communication.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-maslow/language-can-be-a-way-of-hiding-your-thoughts-and-preventing/) [Abraham Maslow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-maslow/) > [Body language as a non verbal communication is very essential in any relationship, being completely oblivion of body language reduces chances of lasting relationship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola/body-language-as-a-non-verbal-communication-is-very-essential-in-any/) [Kemmy Nola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola/) ## More by Timothy Keller > [If you are trying to live a life in accordance with the Bible, the concept and call to justice are inescapable. We do justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-you-are-trying-to-live-a-life-in-accordance-with-the-bible-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [The more you rejoice in your own forgiveness, the quicker you will be to forgive others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-more-you-rejoice-in-your-own-forgiveness-the-quicker-you-will-be/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Evangelism will come organically in friendship if we don’t let our pride, fears, and pessimism cause us to hide our faith and heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/evangelism-will-come-organically-in-friendship-if-we-don-t-let-our/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“The coming of the messianic King occurs in two stages. 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This is why we read in Galatians 2:5 that heresy endangers the truth of the gospel, and why Philippians 1:16 declares that a person’s mind must be persuaded of the truth of the gospel. Ephesians 1:13 also asserts that the gospel is the word of truth. 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