Evangelism gets discussed by pastors and theologians on a constant basis. Especially with the rise of modern Evangelicalism, the topic continues to both inspire and discourage Christians. Looking at the Scripture, Jesus leaves his disciples with what we call the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), and we see how they fulfilled it in their generation. But two thousand years later, what methods do we use? How do we win people to the Gospel today?
In the Old Testament, Proverbs tells us, “he who wins souls is wise,” suggesting some level of spiritual insight must be part of the process, or possibly a result of the endeavor. This explains why every generation revisits the idea of preaching the Gospel and winning people to Jesus.
Looking at the phrase, “he who wins souls is wise,” we can explore the wider idea of winning souls and how we can approach it today.
The full verse of Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.” We can define central words in this verse to find deeper meaning.
The Hebrew word for “win” is laqach, which means “to take, grasp, or capture.” Laqach implies actively drawing someone toward a goal. Winning souls in Proverbs 11:30 involves intentionally trying to lead people to God. For the term “soul,” the original Hebrew uses nephesh, which refers to the whole person. Nephesh encompasses someone’s life, desires, feelings, intellect, and will. The modern concept of soul might point to a spiritual element of a person. However, the Hebrew understanding sees the soul as both the essence and the whole of an individual.
The word “wise” in the verse is translated from chakam, which means skill, discernment, and living the right way based on insight. Biblical wisdom includes both having spiritual understanding and using the divine ways to inform and guide daily action.
Therefore, winning a soul means leading a person to change the core of being to believe and obey God. This winning of a soul impacts the whole life, a complete transformation and change of direction. Repentance connects to this idea, turning from an individual direction to the true ways of God in reconciled relationship. For a man (or woman) to win a soul to God, this reveals the man’s true wisdom. No better gift exists than to draw others to right relationship with God. It saves and heals and gives purpose.
The first part of Proverbs 11:30 says a righteous person is a tree of life. Most proverbs use two ideas to compare or contrast. The tree of life refers back to the Garden of Eden, where that tree gave immortality to Adam and Eve. A righteous person doesn’t take from others; he or she shares the eternal life of God. Living in righteousness blesses others, just as the righteous God gives great blessings. In the same way, winning souls becomes the highest possible goal for others, the greatest good. God desires the salvation of all, and divine wisdom acts upon this reality.
Like all of Proverbs, chapter 11 collects sayings that teach principles of wisdom and shows how righteousness brings benefit for the individual and those around them. On the other hand, wickedness leads to self-destruction and often hurts others.
The first eight verses discuss honesty and integrity: “The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.” In a very practical example, the people of God can show the Lord’s value in fairness and truth, resulting in favor. The following verses (9-14) highlight the importance of wise words: “With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.” Speech has the ability to build up or tear down. Wise and loving words can provide a way of freedom. Lies lead to destruction.
Verses 15-21 focus more on generosity. Proverbs provides instruction on how the righteous live with compassion and faithfulness. The wicked try to exploit others: “The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath.” Behind right action there is a foundation of right motivation, to only do good and not harm. Leading up to verse 30, verses 22-29 continue to teach about the blessings of righteousness and the curses of sin: “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.” Inward character proves more important than how people look on the outside.
In context, verse 30 summarizes these ideas. Righteous living brings good to the individual and the community, like a tree of life. We should desire all people to live like this, so winning people to God is the best we can want for them and others.
Winning souls in the Old Testament often started with reasoning according to the truths of God’s Law. Prophets, priests, and teachers used moral appeals to guide people to understand the blessings of God’s standards. Moses reasoned with the Israelites to choose life by obeying God’s commandments (Deuteronomy 30:19). He appealed from an authoritative position, but he sought to persuade rather than force. His choice of life or death, blessing or cursing, based upon following God’s law, sounds much like the themes in Proverbs 11.
Prophets frequently used the same type of argument to turn people back to God. They would warn about continued rebellion and call to blessing with repentance. For example, Isaiah invited people with: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). God wanted to engage in conversation and relationship to bring them back to himself.
Winning souls in the Old Testament turned people from their sinful and rebellious paths to the ways of God as outlined in the Law. The Ten Commandments begin with right worship of the true God, and from there the laws dealt with right action to the community. This conversion included a total transformation of a life, as meant in Proverbs 11. Following God meant rejecting idolatry and oppression. Instead, a person should walk in obedience to God and give glory to him.
Another part of soul-winning in the Old Testament included a personal testimony. After Moses, Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose whom they would serve in the Promised Land. He made his own commitment clear. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) Again, he didn’t force the community but expressed his own dedication.
Central to winning souls in the New Testament is the declaration of the Gospel—salvation through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus set the example, calling people to repentance and faith. After his resurrection, he commissioned his followers to proclaim the Gospel to all people (Mark 16:15). The apostle Paul preached the Gospel to win souls, as well. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). Paul preached the same to Jews and Gentiles, repentance unto God through Christ by grace. Through this repentance, anyone who believed would have eternal life.
The focus changes from the Law to the person of Christ. This doesn’t completely dismiss the Law, but the Old Covenant failed because it relied upon human ability to accomplish divine life. As God, Jesus is righteousness, so following him personally leads us to live righteously, fulfilling the Law as we obey the Law’s source. And God gave us his own Spirit to empower us to live as his children.
Winning souls in the New Testament goes beyond a momentary conversion. Like the “winning souls” of Proverbs 11:30, it encompasses a complete life transformation. This happens through the process we call making disciples. In the Great Commission, Jesus called them not to make converts but disciples, immersing them in relationship with God. This involves teaching, mentoring, and living as an example of Christ in every area of life. Paul spoke on this in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
None of this happens without the Holy Spirit. The Spirit convicts people of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8), harkening back to the warnings of the Law and Proverbs 11. For believers, the Spirit leads and speaks all truth (John 16:13) and empowers Christians to be witnesses to the glory of God (Acts 1:8). Paul also spoke of the Spirit’s role, how his preaching wasn’t based on persuasive words or intellectualism but on “a demonstration of the Spirit’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). Winning souls requires the Spirit to draw hearts and produce real transformation.
For us, winning souls begins with declaring the Gospel message. Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:17), so we mustn’t neglect the act of living and speaking the Good News. Jesus taught repentance, the coming of the Kingdom of God, and how we must be born again. In John 3:3, Jesus told a religious leader, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” We’re called to share this Good News. Humanity is separated by God from sin but reconciled through Christ’s death and resurrection. To have salvation, we must repent. As Jesus preached, “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matthew 4:17).
Winning souls is God’s work, not based on human formula. When seeking to win souls, we must hear from the Spirit. He knows all hearts and the right things to say. The Holy Spirit provides wisdom, guiding us with when, how, and what to speak. Even Jesus only spoke as he heard from his Father (John 12:49-50). Relying upon the Spirit means we humble ourselves and remember conversion is God’s work, not ours.
Jesus didn’t force anyone to follow him, and he never will. He taught, warned, and called, but he never manipulated or coerced, even though God has all power. The Father wants loving, willing followers. Therefore, we also make appeals for salvation, not imposing it. Winning souls involves respectful and loving discussions and preaching to consider the Gospel. “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20). This approach dignifies each person as made in the image of God and their freedom to respond.
For us today, “he who wins souls is wise” means proclaiming the Gospel in new and creative ways, recognizing salvation is God’s work and we are his disciples.
Peace.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Aaron Burden