I haven't looked at the whole puzzle but from a quick check of the intersecting clues I think NEAREST has to be the answer to be submitted, though I entirely agree that EVANGEL is the solution to the clue as written. There again, perhaps Doc is being more devious than appears to be the case at first sight!
I have reviewed the other thread. Thanks for the link.
I am left with the conclusion that this is just a "bad" clue - bad in the context that the definition led to is not the answer required in the grid, and that there is no indication in the preamble to the puzzle that this might be the case.
I just wanted to know if there is a rational explanation for the apparant anomoly here.
Anyway, never mind. It is only a crossword. Not anything really important.