The gospel according to Paul

Galatians 1:11F

“But I let you know, brethren, as to the glad tidings which were announced by me, that they are not according to man. For neither did I receive them from man, neither was I taught them, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.”

An argument from Paul’s effective experience, the apostle turned first to state his case based on his own encounter. We knew that Paul was saved as a direct result of divine revelation from God, not by the teaching of men or traditional religion. Paul likewise preached a gospel of faith to the Gentiles and disproved the Jews who wanted to return to Jewish legalism.

In the bible glossary, “Gospel” meant “Good News” about Jesus. It also meant the four synoptic writings (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell about Christ’s life. Originally, people then had the “gospel” (singular) the good news Jesus preached, which is the coming of God’s kingdom, the blessings offered to the poor. Now, Jesus became the one to be proclaimed. He himself was the good news. ‘Evangelion’, Greek for gospel, was in the beginning used to announce a victory or great events in the life of the emperor.

Paul, in relation to his gospel being preached, was once described as “Ardent, tenderly sensitive, courteous, fearless, enduring, full of tact and versatility, intellectual and refined, above all, single in aim, exercising himself always to have a conscience void of offence toward God and man, at the same time becoming all things to all men that by all means he might win some, he not only preached but lived Christ as the source and end of his whole being.”

PAUL’S GOSPEL IS NOT OF HUMAN ORIGIN. It was not man’s declaration or message, not according to man and neither human in origin. To explain, that he was not appointed by man, or any human instructor made it known to him. He had neither received it from man, nor had it been debased or adulterated by any human admixtures. He had received it directly from the Lord Jesus. “Not a spark of human invention in it, nor the slightest touch of human cunning,” so to speak. We can say here that the apostle’s doctrine is heavenly origin because he had it from heaven, from Jesus Christ himself, without any man's help. 

The first revelation was on the way to Damascus (Acts 26:13-18). There was no doubt subsequent revelations came after then (2 Cor 12:1). Paul gives an account of the methods God took to keep him humble and to prevent his being lifted up; and this he speaks of to balance the account that was given before of the visions and revelations he had had. That is why we can read in his letters that he does not try to conform to the human ideal. 

What really was Paul’s gospel? An interested person may ask. Let me tell you: this is truly the meaning of Christ’s death in the order of salvation. Paul adds that many are being saved of it if one only hold’s fast. God judges the secrets of man by Jesus Christ, and discloses man’s inward motive (1Cor. 4:5). Paul proclaimed that Jesus Christ was made judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42) and that he was risen from the dead (2 Tim 3:8).

PAUL’S GOSPEL CAME FROM GOD. Matthew and Luke both wrote that man does not live alone on bread but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The need for food to satisfy human subsistence is acceptable but more importantly is the one divinely provided for and that is God's unfailing word of promise and pledge of all needful providential care.

Man's duty under want of the necessaries of life is to this await this divine supply of God’s word, the bible, as our spiritual food, or to the doctrines necessary to support the faith of believers. God could support life by other things than bread; that man was to live, not by that only, but by every other thing which proceeded out of his mouth; that is, which he chose to command people to eat.

The all-powerful God whose presence fills the universe only gave us one Book. God has disclosed to us all He wanted us to know concerning the most important subjects we can grasp in our short life span in this one book. The bible that the God of Heaven wrote can preserve human societies from destruction and extinction, gives us the keys to our future existence in eternity in the afterlife, in heaven. It is the Book that has all of the promises of God and the most recorded miracles found anywhere which God recorded for us. 

God’s blessed word, we know and call as the scriptures is the source of wisdom and the loving fulfilment of God’s loving word in Christ—whom comes salvation as it is written that all scripture is inspired by God Himself and that God is the principal author and the writer is just the human collaborator putting God’s word in human language. Romans 15:4 says that “For as many things as have been written before have been written for our instruction, that through endurance and through encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.” The scriptures were written to teach us to give us hope through the exercise of patience and encouragement. 

Peter likewise shared in his epistle found in 2 Peter 1:20 that “no man by himself may give a special sense to the words of the prophets.” This tells of any private interpretation, right of private judgment of Scripture; or to be understood as if a private believer can just render any prophecy of the Scripture by his own impulse and not purely divine in sense and reason and only prompted by his own spirit “for these words did not ever come through the impulse of men: but the prophets had them from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit.” The prophets were the godly interpreters and messengers who were inspired by God and their actions were in very good order, and not as the actions of the profane soothsayers, and foretellers of things to come.

To wrap up, Christians should take the responsibility of preaching the word of God, as Paul wrote “to preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine.”  How? 1 Timothy 5:20 says: “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” Even church leaders may be openly rebuked by mere believers, so that they may be an example to others.

Some church ministers are seen as “wicked ministers or elders,” with terrible nature that are bringing divisions to members of church and as they continue to be in notoriety, their acts create great scandal and dishonour to the Gospel. The action towards these people is “not only admonish once and again, but degrade them from their office, and withdraw from them, as from other disorderly persons, and cut them off, and cast them out of the church and that in a public manner.” AMEN