John wrote:
>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.
Nothing in this paragraph is agreeable to me. "FIRST OF ALL" is used to speak of "primary importance --- " For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Sacripture ......." NASV.
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)
So one preaches the "gospel" AND accompanies that teaching with the admonition to "repent and believe in the gospel." Exactly where is that definition. Under the pickle???
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."
"and saying" is the actual text. He was preaching the gospel AND saying ..... Not , "he was preaching the gospel saying ...." Big difference. One is definition ( the one that is not the accurate translation of the passage); the lother, tells us that two things occured -- the preaching of the good news and a call to repentance and faith in that 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?
Sounds like you believe there was a difference. Before the cross, they preached Christ such as He was before the cross. After that defining moment, they preached Christ cruscified and raise from the dead. The good news is Christ. Go ahead and call me a heretic.
You don't agree -- perhaps because you like the sound of Mark 1:14-15 and your understanding of that verse over the I Cor 15 passage. Apparently, we all have our favorite passages.
John
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.
Well, I do think you are wrong, but that is really not for me to say.
Peace be with you.
David Miller.
