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“Evangelical” is first of all simply the adjective of “evangel” (i.e., gospel); from the second century it has meant “relating or corresponding to the gospel” (Gk. euangelikos, euangelikōs; Lat. evangelicus). Especially a life lived according to the will of Christ might be called evangelical. In medieval religious movements vita evangelica et apostolica was sometimes used in criticism of the church. This use led to the idea of evangelical counsels, or counsels of perfection (i.e., poverty, chastity, and obedience). A new use arose in the later Middle Ages (J. Wy…