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Balancing Scriptural Examples with Central Gospel Message Preaching

The apostle Paul declared that Christ sent him "not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" [6]. This statement captures a tension that has shaped Christian preaching across centuries: how to proclaim the central message of salvation through Christ while also teaching the full counsel of Scripture, including its narratives, moral examples, and practical wisdom.

The Gospel as Central Fact

The term "gospel" itself—from the Anglo-Saxon "good message"—translates the Greek euaggelion and refers fundamentally to "the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world" [1]. Early Christian preachers who announced this message were called evangelistai, evangelists, and their proclamation centered on the person and work of Christ [1]. Paul described this gospel as "the power of God to salvation" [2], and emphasized that "life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus" through it [2]. The gospel is not merely one theme among many in Christian teaching; it is the interpretive center that illuminates all else.

This centrality appears in Paul's own ministry practice. When writing to the Corinthians, he explained that he came to them declaring "the testimony of God, not with excellency of speech," deliberately avoiding the rhetorical arts employed by Greek philosophers [7]. The testimony concerning Christ was "so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed" [7]. Paul's concern was that human eloquence might obscure or compete with the cross itself—that the medium might overwhelm the message.

Christ as Mediator and the Gospel Covenant

The gospel proclaims Christ specifically as mediator, "the only one between God and man" [3]. This mediatorial role operates "in virtue of his atonement" and establishes him as mediator "of the gospel covenant" [3]. Compact doctrinal statements in the Pastoral Epistles repeatedly emphasize this singular mediation: "There is one God and therefore one mediator between God and humanity" [11]. These formulations likely emerged in response to teaching that "undercut the universal appeal of the Good News and the effectiveness of the Gentile mission" [11], suggesting that deviation from gospel centrality had practical missionary consequences.

The gospel is not a recent innovation but was "preached under the old testament" [2] and "foretold" by the prophets [2]. It was "preached unto Abraham" and "as early as the times of our first parents, in Eden's garden" [12]. This continuity means that the gospel provides the hermeneutical key for understanding the entire biblical narrative, not merely the New Testament documents.

The Scope of Gospel Preaching

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he urged him to "preach the word" [8]—a phrase understood to mean either "Christ the essential Word" or "the word of truth and faith, the Gospel of salvation" [8]. This preaching was to be done "openly, publicly, and with a loud voice, without adding to it, or taking from speaking out the whole, and keeping back no part of it" [8]. The comprehensive nature of this charge suggests that gospel preaching does not exclude other biblical content but rather frames it.

The writer to the Hebrews distinguished between "the principles of the doctrine of Christ"—the foundational gospel truths, described as "milk"—and more developed teaching [9]. These principles were "not to be left with dislike and contempt, nor so as to be forgotten," but neither were believers to remain perpetually at the elementary stage [9]. The gospel provides the foundation, but the structure built upon it includes the full range of biblical instruction.

Examples, Morality, and Gospel Proclamation

A persistent danger in Christian preaching is the substitution of moral instruction for gospel proclamation. The gospel is preached when preachers do "not read lectures of morality, nor mix law and Gospel together, nor make justification and salvation to be by works" [10]. Instead, they "preach Christ and salvation alone by him" [10]. This does not mean that biblical examples and ethical instruction have no place, but that they must not displace or obscure the message of salvation by grace through Christ's work.

The Scriptures themselves model this integration. The apostle Peter is cited as an example of sincerity, and ministers are called to be "examples" of various virtues [5]. Yet these examples function within a gospel framework. Sincerity "should characterise our love to God, our love to Christ, our service to God, our faith, our love to one another, our whole conduct," and notably, "the preaching of the gospel" itself [5]. The moral life flows from gospel reality rather than competing with it.

Contending for the Faith

Jude wrote to "establish them in the Christian faith, and a practice and conversation truly consonant and conformable thereunto" [13]. His concern was that believers maintain "an open and bold profession" of faith "in times of notorious opposition, whether by artful seduction or violent and inhuman persecution" [13]. But this required vigilance: "we must see to it very carefully that it be really the Christian faith that we believe, profess, propagate, and contend for" [13]. The warning implies that distortions of the gospel—whether through addition or subtraction—represent a failure to contend for the authentic apostolic message.

Paul's ministry exemplified this balance. He testified that "from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ" [4]. The adverb "fully" suggests comprehensive proclamation, not a reductionist focus that excludes biblical teaching, yet the object remains "the Good News of Christ." The gospel is not everything the Bible says, but it is the lens through which everything the Bible says must be understood and applied.

The four canonical Gospels themselves demonstrate varied approaches to presenting Christ: Matthew announcing him as "the promised King of the kingdom of God," Mark declaring him "a prophet, mighty in deed and word" [1]. These diverse presentations share a common center—the person and mission of Christ—while incorporating narrative, teaching, and example in service of that central proclamation.

Sources

  1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ, the Mediator — In virtue of his atonement -- Eph 2:13-18; Heb 9:15; 12:24. The only one between God and man -- 1Ti 2:5. Of the gospel covenant -- Heb 8:6; 12:24. Typified Moses. -- De 5:5; Ga 3:19. Aaron. -- Nu 16:48.”
  4. Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
  6. King James Version “[KJV] 1 Corinthians 1:17 — For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 2:1: When I came to you - Acting suitably to my mission, which was to preach the Gospel, but not with human eloquence, Co1 1:17. I declared to you the testimony, the Gospel, of God, not with excellency of speech, not with arts of rhetoric, used by your own philosophers, where the excellence of the speech recommends the matter, and compensates for the want of solidity and truth: on the contrary, the testimony concerning Christ and his salvation is so supremely excellent, as to dignify any kind of language by which it may be conveyed. See the Introduction, Section 2.”
  8. 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word,.... Either Christ the essential Word, who is the sum and substance of the Gospel ministry; or the word of truth and faith, the Gospel of salvation, the word of righteousness, peace, and reconciliation by Christ; which is to be preached, or published, in like manner as heralds proclaim the will of their princes; openly, publicly, and with a loud voice, without adding to it, or taking from speaking out the whole, and keeping back no part of it; and that with all courage and boldness: some copies read, "the word of God"; and the Ethiopic version, "his ”
  9. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ,.... The Gospel is the doctrine of Christ, and is so called, because Christ, as God, is the author of it; as Mediator, he received it from his Father; as man, he was the preacher of it; and he is also the sum and substance of it: the principles of this doctrine are either the easier parts of the Gospel, called milk in the latter part of the preceding chapter; which are not to be left with dislike and contempt, nor so as to be forgotten, nor so as not to be recurred to at proper times; but so as not to abide in”
  10. Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 4:2: For unto us was the Gospel preached,.... The Gospel is the good news and glad tidings of salvation by Christ; and this may be said to be preached, when men preach not themselves, nor read lectures of morality, nor mix law and Gospel together, nor make justification and salvation to be by works, nor set persons to make their peace with God, or get an interest in Christ; but when they preach Christ and salvation alone by him; and so it was preached to the Hebrews, and that more fully, and with more clearness, power, and success than formerly; and which is a privilege an”
  11. 1 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Timothy 2:5: 2:5-6 Compact teachings, as in this passage, occur throughout the letters to Timothy and Titus (see also 1 Tim 3:16; 2 Tim 1:9-10; 2:8, 11-13; Titus 3:4-7). They might be adapted bits of creeds, hymns, or prayers that were known to the churches. The doctrines referenced probably relate to Paul’s trouble with the false teachers; it appears that their teaching undercut the universal appeal of the Good News and the effectiveness of the Gentile mission. The false teachers also had a deficient understanding of Jesus and his salvation. 2:5 There is one God and therefo”
  12. Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 1 (introduction): Mark 1:1 mar 1:1 mar 1:1 mar 1:1The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,.... Not that the Gospel first began to be preached at this time, for it was preached by Isaiah, and other prophets before; and long before that, was preached unto Abraham; yea, it was preached as early as the times of our first parents, in Eden's garden; and is indeed that mystery, which was hid in God before the creation of the world; and was ordained before that was, to the glory of the saints: but the sense is, that this narrative Mark was about to write, began with the ministry”
  13. Jude (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Jude 1:3: We have here, I. The design of the apostle in writing this epistle to the lately converted Jews and Gentiles; namely, to establish them in the Christian faith, and a practice and conversation truly consonant and conformable thereunto, and in an open and bold profession thereof, especially in times of notorious opposition, whether by artful seduction or violent and inhuman persecution. But then we must see to it very carefully that it be really the Christian faith that we believe, profess, propagate, and contend for; not the discriminating badges of this or the other ”
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