one gospel or two

[joeteekay]

Not sure where to place this topic but here it is.

Is there one gospel or two? Jesus Christ, while on earth, preached the gospel (evangel) of the Kingdom of God.

Mar 1:14 (KJV)  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Jesus did not proclaim the gospel message to other nations, only to the nation of Israel. The twelve Apostles preached the same gospel of the Kingdom of God Jesus preached as well as the resurrection and salvation through Jesus Christ. In the early chapters of Acts, we find the message of the Kingdom of God proclaimed to the nation of Israel, by Jesus and the twelve.

In Matthew 15:24 we see that Jesus was sent by God only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The gospel of the Kingdom of God was meant for the Jewish people of that day concerning the coming millennium.

If the gospel of the Kingdom of God was the one and only gospel, why would God call Paul to preach the same thing? Paul did not preach the identical gospel.

There is a gospel for the circumcision which Jesus and the initial Apostles proclaimed and another gospel for the gentiles (nations) which Paul proclaimed. One is concerned with faith and grace, and the other with works and reward.

Paul referred to the gospel he preached as "my gospel" three times in the New Testament because it was different from the gospel to the circumcision.

Gal. 2:7 (KJV) But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

There is a gospel of the circumcision and a gospel of the uncircumcision. That little word "of" is used in describing the relationship, and does not say "to". If the gospels were identical they would be described as the "gospel to" and not the "gospel of". The grammatical meaning of the preposition "of" is defined as  "belonging to, relating to, or connected with:"

This indicates that the gospels were NOT identical. Not at all. There is the gospel for the circumcision (nation of Israel) and another for the uncircumcision (gentiles/nations).

[sheila]

 :2c: I don't think so...neither jew nor Greek  etc. Because of the covenant relationship God was in with flesh Israel as a nation.......

  they were given first opportunity....I believe Peter and the disciples stayed in Jerusalem..to help the people adjust /transform

  from the old lawcovenant unto the grace/gospel/covenant.  the old testament law covenant should have led them unto Christ....and they

   had the disciples/apostle's there until the desolation of Jerusalem.

[marie glen]

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: I agree with Sheila.. and I just read yesterday (?) where Paul wrote about how Jew and Greek were both saved by the blood of Jesus.. I've been in Hebrews, but I don't think that's where it was.. and my wording is not at all good so how am I supposed to do a search for it? dang!

Yep, tiny Israel somewhat prepared to birth Messiah.. first given the glad tidings.. Notice how when some Greek guys came looking for Jesus, He said something like, now is the hour upon me.. (for the coming suffering/passion)

I think too we've changed the gospel a bit.. Jesus spoke of a coming (to Earth and in the heart) Kingdom.. :Peace2:

[eaglesway]

I think there is only one gospel. Paul received his revelation from Jesus, as did Peter. Peter carried it primarily to the Jews(circumscision) Paul carried it primarily to the Gentiles, yet.... Peter brought the first Gentile household into the kingdom, and Paul brought many Jewish people into the gospel.

One Lord, one faith, one Spirit, one body......

[marie glen]

Here's the verses I was trying to remember - Acts 15:7-9 "..when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: "Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith."

From Acts 15, the Jerusalem council (note to self, dah! :doh: )

[eaglesway]

 :thumbsup:

[rosered]

   Love this  thread  :thumbsup:    :cloud9:

    The  woman in travail as Israel    [  giving birth to the son of God  ]  though all that   labour and suffering of the old testament witness   and described so beautifully in Rev 12     :HeartThrob:

[marie glen]

Amen.. Rev 12.. 1 "a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. 2 Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth.
3 And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. 4 His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born." - via Herod the Great.. Then the chapter ends with the gathering to Armageddon.

When seen as an insert (and total history) a fascinating chapter! (imo) things not seen, so plain here.. :doh: :dontknow:

last verse 17 - cross reference "Jerusalem, Jerusalem" Jesus said "you shall not see-me-again, untiL you say 'blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'.." Mt 23:39

[Ross]

Eph 2;11-19 " So remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,
                     called the uncircumcision by those called the circumcision- made in flesh by the hands-
                    remember that AT THAT TIME YOU WERE APART FROM CHRIST,
                    excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise,
                    HAVING NO HOPE AND WITHOUT GOD, in the world.
                   BUT NOW in Christ JESUS you who were at that time far away have come near through the blood of Christ.
                    For He is our peace,
                    WHO HAS MADE US BOTH ONE AND HAS BROKEN DOWN THE DIVIDING WALL,
                    having abolished in His flesh the hostility, the law of commandments and regulations,
                    SO AS TO CREATE IN HIMSELF ONE NEW MAN FROM THE TWO,
                     thus making peace,
                   AND TO RECONCILE THE BOTH TO GOD IN ONE BODY THROUGH THE CROSS,
                    having put to death the hostility in Himself.
                   And He came and preached the good news of peace to you who were far off and to those who were near;
                   FOR THROUGH HIM WE BOTH HAVE ACCESS BY THE ONE SPIRIT TO THE FATHER.
                 So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but are fellow citizens with the saints,
                  and members of the household of God."

I.M.O the Jews know all the  laws so could be spoken to at a different level to the Gentiles-but the result is still the same; no longer Jew or Greek.... SOooo  One Gospel.

[joeteekay]

A few more points regarding two gospels.

Things to ponder:

Why did God call Paul to preach the gospel if the 12 Apostles were already preaching it?
Was the gospel proclaimed by the 12 the same as the one proclaimed by Paul?
Is there one baptism or two? Paul said one, others said two.
Did Paul and James disagree on the role of works? Yes they did.
The names of the12 Apostles are mentioned as foundations in the holy city in the book of Revelation, so why isn't Paul mentioned?

Rom 15:8  Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

As I mentioned earlier the word "of" does not mean "to". It means "belonging to, relating to, or connected with".

Paul called the gospel he proclaimed as his gospel. It was taught to him by the risen Christ from heaven whereas the 12 apostles were taught by Jesus while on earth. If Paul's gospel is the same as that proclaimed by Peter, James, and John, is it not rather presumptuous on the part of Paul to come along after them, and call it his gospel?

As well, it is significant that God separated Paul from the twelve. The expanded gospel teaching given to Paul by God equipped him to conduct his missionary journeys being severed from the twelve.

Act_13:2 (KJV)  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Even with this separation, Paul was always in a harmonious relationship with the twelve Apostles because all recognized the different commission each was given.

Gal 2:9  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.

In Acts 10 and the Jerusalem conference (Acts 15) we do see that Peter was the agent used to bestow the holy spirit to the first gentile. This was done prior to Paul's ministry.

Act 15:7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

With the calling of Cornelius, God showed that gentiles were no longer excluded from being given the holy spirit and being one of God's chosen. Peter's assertion is that God's having him deal with Cornelius through grace and faith was an signal of that ministry to which Paul and Barnabas had been separated on behalf of the nations. Peter arose in defence of Paul's attitude toward circumcision as applied to the nations.

Cornelius was likely a proselyte of the gate (uncircumcised convert to Judaism). This is evident when one reads Acts 10:2. His life style was typical of one who knows of the true God and behaved accordingly.

The gospel for the circumcision (Israel) which was proclaimed by Jesus and the 12 Apostles does not deal with the deeper and ultimate meaning and value of the death and resurrection, nor of the cross of Christ. It is true that it tells of the sufferings and the blood of Christ shed for the pardoning of sin. The church that was formed at Pentecost grew but as time went on the persecution intensified. It was soon to fade after the calling of Paul and eventually was set aside. The nation of Israel as a whole refused to believe the gospel that was then preached.

Rom_11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.

The gospel that Paul preached dealt with matters pertaining to the body of Christ (not bride), ultimate reconciliation of all, death with Christ, deliverance from law, purpose of the eons, justification by faith not works, all centred on God's modus operandi.

From the time of the separation of Paul until the close of the Acts period, there is on ever-widening distinction between the church of the Circumcision and the church from among the Uncircumcision. After his severance in Acts thirteen, Paul carried on a two-fold ministry until the conclusion of the Acts period. In the synagogues, outside the land of Judea, he proclaims the gospel of the kingdom as a witness to the Jews and gentile proselytes. After being driven out of the synagogues, he preached everywhere the gospel of God, gospel of grace -- justification by faith--to all who would listen to him, Jew and gentile alike.

Act 28:28  Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

Yes there is one body, one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism but it does not say one gospel.

In Galatians Paul refers to another gospel and goes on to say there is no "other" gospel than the one he preached..

Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Gal 1:15  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
Gal 1:16  To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

The Jewish leaders sought to mingle the law of Moses and the gospel of grace. Paul proves such a mixture to be impossible. Law and grace are irreconcilable. Every attempt to combine them damages both the majesty of the law and the power of grace, making both of none effect. Paul contends with those who would pervert his gospel, while the wavering Galatian churches were confused because of this struggle. Paul, the divinely appointed possessor of a distinctive message to the gentiles, champions the cause of the gospel to the uncircumcised. Jewish leaders and teachers were always pitted against him, ever seeking to discredit his apostleship and distort his message. The Galatians oscillate between the influences of these rival gospels. They were moving away from the gospel under which they were called by Paul to another of a totally different sort. Unfortunately Jewish leaders were insisting that the Galatian church should keep some of the law of Moses to be better Christians. That mixing or the two gospels is what Paul meant by another gospel. Interestingly, Paul called them "false brethren".

Interestingly the church of the present day is in large part almost as legalistic in its gospel message as were the opponents of Paul.

Near the end of his ministry, when a prisoner in Rome he wrote Philemon, Colossians, Ephesians and Philippians. These are sometime referred to as the prison epistles. They are his final epistles and are very distinct from the preaching of the other Apostles, and even his earlier epistles. Here is one verse of many concerning these loftier spirit concepts.

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places (among the celestials - CLV)  in Christ Jesus:

There are two gospels. The first was preached by Jesus and the 12 apostles. The Jews time after time rejected the that gospel. If they had accepted and embraced it, then the Kingdom of God would have been ushered in. But since they rejected it would be set aside until the current age came to an end. It would be reinstated in the millennium when Christ rules. An angel would proclaim it at the on set of the millennium, when Christ begins to rule on earth (Rev. 14:6).

God raised Paul to preach the gospel to the gentiles and many were able to accept it. It did not exclude the Jews. There is one gospel during this dispensation and it is the one that God gave Paul to proclaim.

[rosered]

  Great  post Joeteekay!


  :thumbsup:   You have brought up some many  valid points to consider  and even reconsider   :dsunny:   

  Thank you  for sharing this  :HeartThrob:


For me,  some things we will never know this side of the river .  Speculation at best  and how it is not  as  crucial to salvation   because   All  salvation  is   done by the Lords hand in  power  to me .

  Like was Judas  still one of the foundations of the apostles ?,  Did he loose His position  and   the 11 chose Mathias   by lots or Did Jesus   give that  ministry/judgment  to Paul  , hand picked by  Himself ?.

Those questions may never  be known  in the here and now .

Judas could be a good judge knowing that Satan [works of darkness ] entered him  to do those things that Jesus foretold already . making him  a compassionate  judge .
We have Paul also knowing the law  of Moses[eye for eye and tooth for tooth , wanting vengeance  in the name of the Lord ]  and an exacting of the Law   [judge not unless you be judged , 

[ wielding the sword shall also die by the Sword   killing and being killed   the ministration of death  by sin as all are guilty of Before God  ]   as well as all the chosen ones  ,   made him    ignorant of  doing Gods service  as a darkness and not true Light/ Knowledge of God  ,
as that darkness   was Not true Light   , not not knowing any better .
 

I do believe ,for me , it is learning to die to this world [ Spirit of  the world /darkness ]  and taking  captive all things  in Jesus Christ   , Being surrounded by    the spirit of the world  and its darkness   , the Light is of heaven opened  to us , I am   hoping  and believing in  .


[   Jerusalem means  by Easton bible dictionary called also Salem, Ariel, Jebus, the "city of God," the "holy city;"

by the modern Arabs el-Khuds, meaning "the holy;" once "the city of Judah" ( 2 Chronicles 25:28 ).

This name is in the original in the dual form, and means "possession of peace," or "foundation of peace."


The dual form probably refers to the two mountains on which it was built, viz., Zion and Moriah;

or, as some suppose, to the two parts of the city, the "upper" and the "lower city." Jerusalem is a "mountain city enthroned on a mountain fastness" (Compare Psalms 68:15 Psalms 68:16 ; 87:1 ; 125:2 ; Psalms 76:1 Psalms 76:2 ; 122:3 ). It stands on the edge of one of the highest table-lands in Palestine, and is surrounded on the south-eastern, the southern, and the western sides by deep and precipitous ravines.

Hebrews  , new covenant law  explained  , kind of confirms this to me saying, If so much as a beast touches the Mountain of God ,  it will be stoned .

Seeing only the holy ones  can  enter the Holy city   and  appear before the throne of grace .

Like  a confirmation   many good things to consider in your post and also reconsider bro .

I kind of see the two  law  covenants  becoming  ONE   in the sense that Jesus Christ[and those found in  Him ]   is fulfilling them  both   as the Revelation scriptures   come to pass .

We cannot ask for Gods mercy upon ourselves  and loved ones  and  not show any mercy on others still in the darkness    that we  have passed from  death to Life    can we ?

  But desire  that all  will  come to the  same Light  and knowledge of God  as we have been shown   this same mercy of God .

Making all our hope in Him and become obedient    to His command   , to love one another as He has loved us     John 15

No Greater Love
...11I have told you these things so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

12This is My commandment, that you love one another as I loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are My friends if you do what I command you....

  I do believe this is where the scripture comes in,  Blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints [ holy ones ]   

  Jesus  the Son of God    died on the cross[ baptism of death   romans 6;4 and Col 2;12 ]    and   the Father said,    This is my son in whom I am well pleased   Matthew  3  is   to me    fulfilling the   law   symbolism 

and actual   death  on the cross  to  bring in the new covenant   of the testator    Hebrews 9 ...

15Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance,

now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.

16In the case of a will, it is necessary to establish the death of the one who made it,


17because a will does not take effect until the one who made it has died; it cannot be executed while he is still alive....


  This was the promise of God to raise    Jesus Christ from the dead   and making this new way and Life effective   from that point on    to me .


So it is one   gospel     though Jesus Christ    from now on , He done what  no one  could ever do , keeping all the law   in both covenants       for me
   We love Jesus because He first loved us , while we were  yet sinners Christ died for us .....     

[CHB]

Hi Joe,

I agree with what you have said. The only thing I understand differently is, I think Paul preached the same gospel only it was upgraded so to speak. The gospel the apostles preached was of the flesh, Paul preached the spirit. My thoughts are that our christian walk is like going to School. We start out in first grade and when Jesus comes back we will graduate from collage with honors. It has been this way from the beginning of time when one thinks about it. It is a progressive journey for us all.
This is just my thoughts. 

CHB

[eaglesway]

I see it  like this. To me there are so many verses that identify the gospel as one- euaggelion- because Jesus is the gospel. Peter was responsible to be the point man for spreading it(Him) among the Jews, and the unique application in that sphere. Paul was responsible to be the point man in spreading it(Him) among the Gentiles. There are differences in focus and application- but the same goal, the revelation of Jesus Christ as head over all things to the One New Man. The One New Man is a sort of first fruits of His creation, so the whole creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the children of God, who will bring all into harmony and liberty. In the end all will be one, "even as I and the Father are one"- and there will be no difference between anyone, because God will be all in all :2c:

[CHB]

In the end all will be one, "even as I and the Father are one"- and there will be no difference between anyone, because God will be all in all :2c:

Amen!!! I can hardly wait.  :banana:

CHB