The I Cor passage is the only passage that proports to give a definition or explanation of the "gospel."
No it is not.
John wrote:
So I will stay with that definition. To drag other elements into the definition is to depend on reasoning and the ability to deduce the truth of scripture on this point. If the Bible is complete, and I believe it is for pragmatic reasons, then God said all that He intended to say on a given subject. Since this is the only definition of "gospel" that I am aware of -- I conclude that He said all that he intended to say. I Co 15:1-4, then, is the definition and the reasonings of man add nothing to the subject in that regard.
Sigh. I quoted another passage with a better definition of the gospel, and you seem to not even recognize it because of your favorite pet passage. How can you possibly rely upon only one passage to define the gospel, especially when that passage specifically tells us that it is only part of the gospel?
Let me try and lay it out tersely for you. Following is your passage from 1 Cor. 15 with some of the wording removed to clarify my point.
"Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand ... For I delivered unto you FIRST OF ALL all that which I also received, how that 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:
(1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Notice those words, "FIRST OF ALL." This is a clear indication that he is only defining part of the gospel, a part of it that is of primary importance. As I said before, the context in which he says all this is a discussion of the resurrection. He is simply trying to say that the gospel relies upon the resurrection, and so he is repeating those particular aspects of the gospel.
Now consider the passage that I offered to you, and please read it this time. It defines the gospel too.
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, PREACHING THE GOSPEL of the kingdom of God, and SAYING, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
(Mark 1:14-15)
We know that preaching is "saying," and here it tells us what Jesus was saying when he went preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God: "The kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Consider also that the apostles were sent out to preach the gospel long before they even understood that Jesus was to die, be buried, and then rise again from the dead! What were they preaching? They certainly were NOT preaching what you have defined the gospel to be, which is simply the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord. So what is your position on this? Do you believe that the gospel was changed later, or do you believe that they preached the same gospel later that they had preached at the first, when Jesus first called them apostles and sent them out to preach?
Please don't read anything evil in my question. It is a sincere question for which I would like an answer, even if that answer is: maybe I was wrong.
Peace be with you. David Miller.
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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