Just what is Paul’s Gospel

[H. Richard]

Just what is Paul’s Gospel and who gave it to him?

Rom 2:16 NKJV
16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, “”according to my gospel.””

Rom 16:25 NKJV
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you “”according to my gospel”” and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began

2 Tim 2:8-10 NKJV
8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel,
9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Jesus gave Paul the gospel he taught.

Acts 9:13-16 NKJV
13 Then Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem.
14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name."
15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for “”he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.””
16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake."

If a person refuses to hear Paul’s Gospel he/she is out of the will of God (Jesus) and will not enter heaven since he/she will be judged by Paul‘s Gospel. See Rom 2:16 above.

 

[Davy]

Paul didn't have a gospel that belonged to him personally; he preached The Gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is only one of those.

 

[Enoch111]

Just what is Paul’s Gospel and who gave it to him?

Paul's Gospel is the same as every other reference to the Gospel, and he received it directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. The glorious Gospel of the blessed God
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom
3. The Gospel of God
4. The Gospel of Christ
5. The Gospel
6. Our Gospel
7. My Gospel
8. The Everlasting Gospel
9. Glad Tidings
10. Good tidings of great joy
11. The Gospel before to Abraham
12. The Word of the truth of the Gospel
13. The Gospel of peace
14. The Gospel of your salvation
15. The Word of God

 

[Taken]

Paul's Gospel is the same at every other reference to the Gospel, and he received it directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1. The glorious Gospel of the blessed God
2. The Gospel of the Kingdom
3. The Gospel of God
4. The Gospel of Christ
5. The Gospel
6. Our Gospel
7. My Gospel
8. The Everlasting Gospel
9. Glad Tidings
10. Good tidings of great joy
11. The Gospel before to Abraham
12. The Word of the truth of the Gospel
13. The Gospel of peace
14. The Gospel of your salvation
15. The Word of God

Yes.

Gal 1
[11] But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
[12] For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[Enoch111]

If Christians would only rightly divide the Word of Truth, they would understand that there is ONLY ONE GOSPEL. It is the Good News that salvation (justification) is by grace through faith, and that God gives the gift of eternal life to "whosoever" genuinely believe (with a repentant heart) that the Lord Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, who was the Lamb of God who paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world: This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners... (1 Tim 1:15)

Of course, there is a lot more to the Gospel and to salvation and that is why we have the New Testament.

 

[Taken]

If Christians would only rightly divide the Word of Truth, they would understand that there is ONLY ONE GOSPEL.

They can't Divide it, per Scripture or per What does and does not Apply to Themselves....because frankly, I do not believe a great majority even understand what that means.

Glory to God,
Taken

 

[H. Richard]

It seems that some do not know or understand theses verse in the OP.

Rom 16:25 NKJV
25 Now to Him who is able to establish you “”according to my gospel”” and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began

It seems that most want to ignore the verse above because it does not support their theology that the gospel never changed.

Other scriptures say his gospel was HIDDEN IN GOD and revealed to him (Paul). Does God hide things from man?
Deut 29:29
29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
NKJV

1 Cor 2:7-8
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
NKJV

Eph 3:8-10
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that """""now"""" the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
NKJV

Col 1:26-27
26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but """"now"""" has been revealed to His saints.
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
NKJV

 

[Enoch111]

It seems that some do not know or understand theses verse in the OP.

What was hidden in ages past was NOT the Gospel, but the reality of the Church (redeemed Jews and Gentiles in one Body). That is why Paul called it "a mystery".

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Eph 3:3-6)

 

[justbyfaith]

Paul's gospel is what is outlined in 1 Corinthians 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:8, and 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

It is the same gospel as was mentioned by Jesus Christ in John 3:16; only with more detail.

 

[H. Richard]

What was hidden in ages past was NOT the Gospel, but the reality of the Church (redeemed Jews and Gentiles in one Body). That is why Paul called it "a mystery".

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Eph 3:3-6)

See post 7.

 

[charity]

What was hidden in ages past was NOT the Gospel, but the reality of the Church (redeemed Jews and Gentiles in one Body). That is why Paul called it "a mystery".

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Eph 3:3-6)

Hello @Enoch111,

I agree that what was hidden in ages past was not the gospel, for God made it known through the prophets of the Old Testament, who wrote it down. Though they did not understand it, as we are told in 1 Peter 1:10-12:-

'Of which salvation the prophets have enquired
.. and searched diligently,.... who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
...... Searching what,
........ or what manner of time
.......... the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify,
............ when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ,
.............. and the glory that should follow.
Unto whom it was revealed,
.. that not unto themselves,
.... but unto us they did minister the things,
...... which are now reported unto you
........ by them that have preached the gospel unto you
.......... with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven;
............ which things the angels desire to look into.'

* It needed a revelation of the Holy Spirit to make it known. As you have pointed out in your quotation from Ephesians 3:3-6. 'The Mystery of Christ', was made known to the Apostles and Prophets of the New Testament, including Paul, by Divine revelation, as the verses you have quoted show.

* However, 'The Mystery of Christ', which was made known to the apostles and prophets, is not the same as, 'The Mystery' which was made known to Paul himself. Paul alludes to his knowledge of, 'The Mystery of Christ', in Ephesians 3:3, to establish his authority as one to whom that mystery had also been revealed: in order to present a yet further 'Mystery', made known to him alone: which is,' That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. That had not been made known to the other apostles and prophets, but to Paul alone: neither was it the subject of the Old Testament Prophets, for it is part of the unsearchable riches of Christ (Ephesians 3:8), that Paul was called upon to make known. It had been hidden in God (Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26-28) from ages and from generations.

'Even the mystery
.. which hath been hid from ages and from generations,
.... but now is made manifest to His saints:
To whom God would make known
.. what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
.... which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom;
.. that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ... ... '
(Colossians 1:26-28)

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Enoch111]

* However, 'The Mystery of Christ', which was made known to the apostles and prophets, is not the same as, 'The Mystery' which was made known to Paul himself.

I believe we are in agreement, since within the context the Mystery of Christ has two components:
1. Christ in you the hope of glory
2. All redeemed Jews and Gentiles in one Body, which is the Church.

The OT prophets and saints were not fully acquainted with how God would constitute the Church, and in fact the majority of the saints would be Gentiles within the Church. Peter had to struggle with the idea that the Holy Spirit would also be given to the Gentiles.

 

[charity]

Hello @Enoch111,

Thank you for replying to my post.

This morning I read again, as a prayer, the prayers of Paul for the Ephesians, in which he prays for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge (or acknowledgement) of Him (God in Christ). We cannot hope to have this knowledge, or acknowledge it, without the insight that the spirit of wisdom and revelation can give. I pray this prayer in Ephesians 1:17-23, and that of Ephesians 3:14-21 for myself and for all who believe, for it is vital for each one of us.

* I pray ... in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that You Heavenly Father: -
.. the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
.... the Father of glory,
may give unto US the spirit of wisdom and revelation
.. in the knowledge of YOURSELF:
The eyes of OUR understanding being enlightened;
that WE may know
what is the hope of YOUR calling,
.. and what the riches of the glory of YOUR inheritance in the saints,
.... and what is the exceeding greatness of YOUR power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of YOUR mighty power,
.. Which YOU wrought in Christ,
.... when YOU raised Him from the dead,
...... and set Him at YOUR own right hand in the heavenly places,
...... Far above all principality,
........ and power,
.......... and might,
............ and dominion,
.............. and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
................ and hath put all things under his feet,
.................. and gave Him to be the head
.................... over all things to the church, which is His body,
.................... the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.
Amen

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Davy]

What was hidden in ages past was NOT the Gospel, but the reality of the Church (redeemed Jews and Gentiles in one Body). That is why Paul called it "a mystery".

How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (Eph 3:3-6)

And since we now have The New Testament, many passages about that in the Old Testament prophets has become clear...

Isa 11:10
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
KJV

Isa 42:6
6 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
KJV

Isa 49:6
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
KJV

 

[Davy]

But what Hyper-Dispensationalism teaches, which is where those like @Richard is coming from, is that Christ's Church is separate from Israel, that ONLY Apostle Paul's Epistles are applicable to Christ's Church.

I've tried to show them many times, how God scattered the majority of Israelites among the Gentiles, which many of those have become Christ's Church (probably a majority in the Christian nations of old).

John Darby, who originally held to a Post-tribulational coming of Jesus and gathering of the Church, left that doctrine which the Church had for over 1,800 years. He instead latched onto the Edward Irving Church's preaching of a Pre-tribulational Rapture, which the Church never held to before that time in 1830's Great Britain. To further create support for a pre-trib rapture of the Church, the idea of "tribulation saints" was created and applied to Jews that come to Jesus during the tribulation, making those "left behind" to suffer the great tribulation. Then at Jesus' return, the Church and Jesus rule from Heaven while the Jews have their own kingdom on earth, that is what Darby believed. Others followed Darby's lead, some going even farther.

I have already pointed out to some, that they are taught that Christ's Olivet discourse is only for the Jews, and not for Christ's Church, while they will readily accept without question John 14 about the "many mansions" as being for the Church. Their doctrine is a pick-and-choose doctrine of men, chopping up God's Word like it was a side of beef on a butcher's block. (The "many mansions", or 'abodes', of John 14, is about the dwellings in God's House per the Ezekiel millennial temple layout after Jesus returns to this earth. It is ON EARTH per Ezekiel 40-47, even existing areas in the middle east being declared in Chapter 47.)