Another highly pivotal discrepancy between the writings of Paul and the teachings of Jesus Christ centers upon their theologies starkly divergent centers – namely, the very different ways the two defined and preached the foundational essence of their ministries; what the biblical manuscripts call “the gospel”¹ … On the one hand, Paul announces his own unique “gospel” (see Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 4:15-16, 1 Corinthians 15:1, Galatians 1:6-7, Philippians 3:17, & 1 Thessalonians 1:6) – namely, the message A) that Jesus Christ was/is the Messiah (see Acts 13:32-33, Acts 18:28, Romans 8:3, & Galatians 4:4)², B) that Jesus Christ rose from the dead after his crucifixion (see Acts 13:29-31, Acts 17:2-3, Acts 17:30-31, Romans 1:4, Romans 7:4, & 1 Corinthians 15:3-4), and C) that anyone who worships Jesus Christ as the only Son of God will be granted eternal salvation in heaven after their bodily death (see Acts 13:38-39 – where Paul states “Let it be known to you therefore, my brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you; that by Jesus everyone who believes is set free from all those sins from which you could not be freed by the Law of Moses”, see Romans 10:9-10 – where Paul states that “if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved”, and see 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 – where Paul states that “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ” – see also Romans 6:5, 1 Corinthians 8:6, 1 Corinthians 10:4, & Philippians 3:10-11 et al).

On the other hand, the Gospel of Jesus Christ expressed a very different message indeed. Yes, first & foremost it is fair to admit that the “good news” mentioned in the Synoptic Gospels was often described in terms that were vague at best (as “the good news of the Kingdom” in Matthew 4:23 & Matthew 9:35, as “the good news of the Kingdom of God”³ in Luke 4:43 & Luke 8:1 & Luke 16:16, as “the good news of God” in Mark 1:14-15⁴, as “the good news of Jesus Christ” in Mark 1:1⁵, as “this good news” in Matthew 26:13 & Mark 14:9⁶, and simply as “the good news” in Mark 16:15⁷, Mark 8:35, Mark 10:29, Mark 13:10-13⁸, Luke 4:18⁹, Luke 7:22, Luke 9:6, & Luke 20:1).

Fortunately for all those interested (Christians and non-Christians alike), there are two other instances in the Bible where Jesus speaks to the nature of his Gospel – two instances where he actually did so with remarkably clear specificity. The first of these two mentions is found in Matthew 10:7, where the NRSV Bible has him telling his disciples, “As you go forth, proclaim [this] Good News: the Kingdom of Heaven is even now at hand.”¹⁰ As such, this verse shows that the first portion of Jesus’ two-part Gospel is his contention that his followers are to focus not on the future but rather on the Here&Now – essentially the truly good news that “The Kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they be able to say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘Look, there it is!’ For, in fact, the Kingdom of God is [already] within you” (Luke 17:20-21 – the only instance in the entire New Testament where Jesus speaks both specifically and non-metaphorically about Heaven). Even more importantly, the second facet of Jesus’ Gospel is delineated in Matthew 24:12-14, where Jesus describes how his followers (and indeed, the rest of humanity as well) could attain entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven of which he so often spoke – saying, “the Love of many will grow cold, and yet the one who endures [in Love] to the end shall be saved. And this Good News of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations.” (see also Luke 6:46-49)

So in essence then, it can now be readily & clearly seen that whereas Paul‘s “gospel” concentrated on tempting his adherents into “saving” themselves by worshiping Jesus as the Messiah (the one & only Son of God – a status Jesus repeatedly denied & indeed firmly decried), Jesus‘ very different “Good News” encouraged his followers to live fully blissful lives by selflessly Caring for others. Indeed, as has been touched on previously, Paul was undeniably a man of faith – believing without a doubt that Jesus was the incarnate resurrected Son of God (see Acts 9:20, Acts 17:18, Acts 24:21, Romans 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, 2 Corinthians 4:5-6, & Colossians 3:1), that Jesus was the Messiah and as such the one true source of spiritual salvation (see Acts 9:22, Acts 18:5, Acts 18:28, Acts 19:17, Acts 28:30-31, & Colossians 2:8-9 et al), and that the only individuals who had access to said salvation were those who worshiped Jesus Christ faith-fully – those who believed with their hearts and professed with their mouths that Jesus was the Heaven-sent Savior of all those who adored him accordingly. For Paul, that faith in Jesus’ divinity was enough for salvation, and indeed that faith was the only viable path thereto (see Acts 16:29-31, Acts 28:23, Romans 3:21-25, Romans 4:5, Romans 5:1-11, Romans 5:17-18, Romans 6:4-5, Romans 7:22-25, Romans 8:1-11, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 14:8-9, & 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

Of course, Jesus would have none of such nonsense, renouncing any hint of his own special divinity at every turn (see Mark 10:18, John 5:41, John 7:16, John 8:50-54, & John 12:44 et al). He repeatedly told his followers that they possessed just as much divine potential as he did (see Matthew 5:9, Matthew 5:44-48, John 10:34-35, John 14:12, & John 14:20 et al), he rebuked disciples and demons alike whenever they claimed that he was the Messiah – the one and only Son of God (see Mathew 16:20, Mark 5:7, Mark 8:30, Luke 4:35, Luke 8:28 & Luke 9:20-21 et al), and he rejected all temptations to public reverence or personal leadership (see Matthew 20:28, Matthew 23:12, Mark 10:44-45, Luke 22:24-27, & John 13:12-15 et al) – including calls from his followers to become king (a la John 6:15), announcements from regional leaders that he was a king (a la Luke 23:3), and even promises of immortality & unlimited royal power from Satan himself (see Matthew 4:1-11 & Luke 4:1-13).

Finally, and in full harmony with the Gospel of Jesus Christ – the Good News as he defined it and shared it during his ministry, the Scriptures show that Jesus wanted others to worship God by emulating his selfless Way of Living and his humble Way of Loving – stating quite plainly that his followers were to “Let your light shine before others so that they might see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16), and “Love your God with all your heart … [and] Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31 – see also Matthew 225:35-40), and “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and enliven it” (Luke 8:21); that his listeners were to “do just as I have done for you … If you understand these things, blessed are you while you do them” (John 13:15-17 – see also John 3:16-21), and “just as I have Loved you, so shall you Love one another. By this will others know that you are my disciples: when you show Love for one another” (John 13:34-35), and “Abide in me just as I abide in you … My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit and [thereby] become my disciples” (John 15:4-8), and “Keep my commandments … [and] this is my commandment: that you Love one another just as I have Loved you.” (John 14:15 + John 15:12)

 

 

 

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Filed under: Jesus & the Cult of Paul by Scaughdt