Did Jesus Preach the Gospel?

by Scot McKnight

The most influential piece of literature in the twentieth century was the gospel tract. Why? Because it reduced the gospel to sound bytes and because it has framed how many Christians now understand the gospel message. What might surprise us is that the central idea of Jesus’ teaching—the coming kingdom of God—does not appear in any of the gospel tracts. Why is that? Have we only relied on Paul’s version of the gospel? Is it possible, many are asking, to combine the gospel of Paul with the gospel of Jesus? Which leads to this question: What is the gospel? And to this one: Did Jesus himself preach the gospel or not?

Comments

joe losiak

Jesus began His greater teaching with the sermon on the mount. That sermon was used to show a religious people their short falling from the beauty of Kingdom living. In Luke the sermon left them asking, "who then can be saved" if we are to be judged for even our thoughts not physically experienced. Jesus answered, "with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible". Yes Jesus knew He had to break through their religious convictions. When James explained, dead faith vs. living faith, it was not Paul he was explaining it was Genesis where Abraham was justified by faith and Habakuk where the prophet also declared this fact. The illustrations Jesus used taught the Gospel in a visual way rather than in an abstract legal document which could not be understood easily by most people. Paul described the inner workings of Jesus teaching and the thief on the cross may best illustrate grace and faith.

Jack Viljoen

This is going to ruffle some feathers in certain circles. I like the way he brings it together. His historical/Old Testament build up to the "gospel" sets the tone. The gospel isolated from this, is simply a very self-centered plan of salvation and not biblical at all. We simply are not saved from hell for the sake of skipping the lake of fire.

There is so much more to the gospel. Jesus came preaching the Kingdom not a once off salvation message. Salvation is brought by Jesus at the end of the race... to those who have endured.

The true gospel also implies community. It cannot be appropriated or lived out as an individual.

I agree that Paul and Jesus preached the same gospel.

jeff weddle

ANother proof of Paul preaching the same Gospel as Jesus is when Paul says, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified," Again showing that Jesus Christ is the Gospel.

Joseph Bradfprd

Thanks Scott, beautifully said. The practical upshot of all this is this: The "plan of salvation" demands agreement to a proposition, but the Gospel demands devotion to a person, the person of Jesus Christ. The "plan of salvation" nets people who nod, but the Gospel nets disciples of Jesus.

David Noah Taylor

That evangelical Christianity has not been preaching the the faith once delivered to the Saints should be completely obvious. A short visit to the second and forth chapters of the book of Acts will confirm that the results of their preaching the good news are rarely if ever seen as a result of today's preaching. The big shock will not be in discovering the difference between the two gospels, that will come when the demands of the authentic good news is understood. Merely talking about such things can be compared to Ezekiel's becoming a "sensual song" to the people of Israel (Eze. 33:30-33). God's people must wake up.

bossmanham

Thank goodness you emergent types are here to rescue us all. What would John 3:16 do without you?

Joshua Perkins

I think Dr. McKnight has a very good point about the over-extension of the word "gospel"; however, his narrowing of the meaning by defining it as only "the story of Jesus" raises some questions that cast doubt on his conclusion. If this is correct, how does one "obey the gospel"? If the gospel is just an announcement of Jesus as Messiah and Lord, how do Gentiles "partake of the promise in Christ" through it?

His point is most undercut by Paul's definition of gospel—not in 1 Corinthians 15, but in Romans 1 and 3. The apostle says that "in [the gospel] the righteousness of God is revealed"—but how? Certainly in the announcement that Jesus is Lord, but there's more. He explains in Romans 3:21-26 that the righteousness of God that "has been manifested" is "through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." Paul goes on to declare that God's righteousness is revealed by justification and propitiation. This, too, is the gospel; Dr. McKnight has followed in the footsteps of the "Tom" he mentioned (Bishop N. T. Wright) by limiting the meaning beyond what Scripture would warrant.

Ryan Cristonsen

I'm curious about the third point on persuasion. At marker 10.55 referring to the use of judgement language in preaching the gospel it is claimed that 'no one who preaches the gospel in the NT did this'. What do we make of Romans 2.16 ? "This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secret thoughts through Jesus Christ as my gospel declares."

Please don't misunderstand me, I agree with the thesis that the Gospel is the narrative. I just hold that in the pages of that narrative Jesus tells us that he will be our personal judge. I see a both/and rather than an either/or.

Dave Browning

I would agree that the message in the gospel and early part of Acts was not the message we are sharing today. I would place the gospels and the early chapters of Acts in the Old Testament, in that respect. I don't think anyone saw the church coming, until it happened. They were all looking for a king, a kingdom (a literal one at that), and were doing so even post-resurrection (Acts 1:5,6). But Jesus' answer in Acts 1:8, and the subsequent events, were game changers, even if it took a while for the group to catch on.

John wen, missionharmony.com

It's the kingdom of God's message, the gospel Jesus preached. In Matthew Jesus specifically talked about the kingdom of God more than 50 times, more than any other books in the Bible. From Jesus' declaring on Matt 4:17, the gospel of kingdom of God comes in the following 7 phases: (1) the kingdom of God began from Jesus' incarnation of God's word(Matt Ch 1-4), (2) the kingdom of God's people are to live holy with their rewards(Ch 5-7), (3) the kingdom of God's preaching is by God's authority and power(Ch 8-12), (4) the Kingdom of God starts from people's hearts to churches(Ch13-16), (5) the kingdom of God is to grow in church like in heaven(Ch 17-23), (6) the kingdom of God 's coming proceeds with signs to alert His people and its foretold judgments to call others to repent(Ch 24-25), (7) the kingdom of God's foundation is Jesus' salvation accomplished on the cross for His people to declare to the world(Ch 26-28). At the end of the Bible, in Revelation Jesus revealed to John more specifics of His kingdom's coming signs and the glorious hope His people will realize in His final victory to reign with Him, and the judgements for calling the world to turn back to Him.

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Linda Semler

I am not a theologian, seminarian, Biblical scholar or anything of import HOWEVER

I, along with help have written a book which nails what the gospel is Jesus taught.

I hope you are encouraged by its truth. I give the book away as an ebook. Please download and read.

www.forthispurpose.tv IT IS EXTREMELY RADICAL.

I listened to your audio...you missed it. As teachers we must teach the truth...you are close but not quite there.