Sunday, May 25, 2014

THERE IS ONLY ONE GOSPEL

Recently, someone suggested that there is more than one Gospel.  He said that the Apostle Peter preached a different Gospel to the Jews, than did the Apostle Paul to the Gentiles.  He supported this by quoting Galatians 2:7-9, which says:

"But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; (For He that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

Unfortunately for him, the Bible clearly indicates there is but one Gospel.  Mark 16:15 reads, "And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach THE Gospel to every creature."  Galatians 1:6-7 states, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert THE Gospel of Christ."  Again, in Romans 1:16, Paul wrote, "For I am not ashamed of THE Gospel of Christ: for IT is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." 

Our English word, "Gospel," is translated from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelion), which, according to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, means:

"the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the Kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the Kingdom of God; the glad tidings of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ."

While there are seven Greek words which are translated "Gospel," all have εὐαγγέλιον as their root.  The single Gospel appears as:  "Gospel" 46x, "Gospel of Christ" 11x, "Gospel of God" 7x, and "Gospel of the Kingdom" 3x.

Jesus "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
And that He was buried,
And that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures!"

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