Communicating the Gospel in a Digital Age Effectively
The term "gospel" (Greek: evangelion) refers to the "good news" or "glad tidings" of salvation through Jesus Christ [3, 10]. The communication of this message, often called "preaching the gospel," is a central theme throughout the New Testament, with early Christian preachers being referred to as evangelistai [3]. This communication involves proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about Jesus Christ [2, 6].
The Nature of the Gospel Message
The gospel message centers on the person and mission of Christ [3]. As described in the New Testament, it includes the announcement that the Savior has come into the world [3]. For instance, Matthew's account presents Jesus as the promised King of the kingdom of God, while Mark declares Him a prophet mighty in word and deed [3]. The Apostle Paul emphasized that his ministry involved fully preaching the good news of Christ, often accompanied by signs and wonders, through the power of God's Spirit [1].
John Gill, a Baptist commentator, describes the gospel as "the good news and glad tidings of salvation by Christ" [10]. He clarifies that preaching the gospel means proclaiming Christ and salvation through Him alone, rather than focusing on morality, mixing law and gospel, or advocating for justification and salvation by works [10]. This emphasis on Christ as the sole means of salvation is a hallmark of the gospel message.
Biblical Mandate and Practice
The command to communicate the gospel is evident in Jesus's instructions to His disciples: "As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’" [6]. The book of Acts illustrates the early church's commitment to this mandate, with apostles "preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance" [2]. Paul's ministry exemplifies this, as he sought "to preach the gospel in the regions beyond" where others had not yet established a presence [7]. He also recognized that even his imprisonment served "to advance the gospel" [5].
The communication of the gospel is not merely an intellectual exercise but involves a spiritual dimension. Paul's ministry was characterized by "the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit" [1]. This suggests that the effective communication of the gospel is empowered by divine agency.
Metaphors for Gospel Communication
Biblical texts employ various metaphors to describe the act of communicating the gospel:
- Sowing Seed: The Apostle Paul compares gospel preachers to sowers of seed, with the word of God being the seed [13]. This metaphor highlights that the gospel, like seed, possesses a generative quality through divine influence, and it must be sown into the "heart" to bear fruit [13].
- Angels/Messengers: John Gill interprets the "angels" sent forth by Christ in Matthew 24:30 not as ministering spirits, but as "men angels, or messengers, the ministers and preachers of the Gospel" [11]. He explains that they are called angels due to their mission and commission from Christ to preach the gospel and their knowledge of its truths [11].
- Communication/Fellowship: Paul speaks of the Philippians' "communication in the gospel of Christ, from the first day until now" [4]. The term "communication" here (Greek: koinonia) can also imply fellowship or partnership in the gospel, indicating a shared participation in its spread and benefits [4, 14].
Historical and Theological Perspectives
Throughout Christian history, the understanding and methods of communicating the gospel have evolved. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, interprets the angel flying in the midst of heaven with the "everlasting Gospel" in Revelation 14:6 as potentially signifying "a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world" [8]. He considers whether this refers to "any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth," even suggesting that institutions like The British and Foreign Bible Society could be seen in this light [8]. This perspective highlights the ongoing, global nature of gospel dissemination.
John Gill, in his commentary on Matthew 13:49, connects the disciples' understanding of parables to their readiness to preach the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven [9]. He encourages a "diligent exercise of their gifts, and to a large, free, and cheerful communication of their knowledge to others" [9]. This emphasizes the role of understanding and spiritual gifting in effective gospel communication.
While the outward ministry of the word is crucial, Gill also notes that in the new covenant, there is a promise that people "shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother" (Jeremiah 31:34) [12]. He clarifies that this does not negate the need for preaching in the present age, as saints still "know but in part, and there is room for a" teaching ministry [12]. This distinction suggests a future state of complete knowledge, but affirms the ongoing necessity of gospel communication in the current era.
Sources
- 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”
- Acts “preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching the things concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, without hindrance. -- Acts 28:31”
- 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”
- Philippians “Philippians 1:5 (DRC) — For your communication in the gospel of Christ, from the first day unto now.”
- Philippians “Philippians 1:12 (BSB) — Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.”
- Matthew “As you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!’ -- Matthew 10:7”
- King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 10:16 — To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.”
- Revelation (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Revelation 14:6: Another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel - Whether this angel mean any more than a particular dispensation of providence and grace, by which the Gospel shall be rapidly sent throughout the whole world; or whether it mean any especial messenger, order of preachers, people, or society of Christians, whose professed object it is to send the Gospel of the kingdom throughout the earth, we know not. But the vision seems truly descriptive of a late institution, entitled The British and Foreign Bible Society, whose object it is to print an”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 13:49: Then said he unto them,.... Since the disciples had such a clear understanding of the above parables, and were by them, and by other things, so well furnished to preach the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to others, Christ stirs them up by the following parable, to a diligent exercise of their gifts, and to a large, free, and cheerful communication of their knowledge to others, Therefore every Scribe; meaning not legal ones, Scribes in the law of Moses, a sort of letter men, often mentioned by the evangelists, and the same with the lawyers, who were conversant ”
- 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”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 24:30: And he shall send his angels,.... Not the angels, i.e. ministering spirits, so called, not from their nature, but their office, as being sent forth by God and Christ; but men angels, or messengers, the ministers and preachers of the Gospel, whom Christ would call, qualify, and send forth into all the world of the Gentiles, to preach his Gospel, and plant churches there still more, when that at Jerusalem was broken up and dissolved. These are called "angels", because of their mission, and commission from Christ, to preach the Gospel; and because of their knowledge an”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 31:34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother,.... Which is not to be understood of the outward ministry of the word; in heaven indeed there will be no need of it, nor in the New Jerusalem state; but in every period of time before it. In the first times of the Gospel, persons were appointed and qualified by Christ to be pastors and teachers; and in the latter day men shall run to and fro, and increase knowledge; besides, the saints in the present state stand in need of teaching; since they know but in part, and there is room for a ”
- 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 9:10: If we have sown unto you spiritual things,.... The preachers of the Gospel are compared to sowers of seed; the seed they sow is the word of God, which is like to seed, for its smallness and despicableness in the eyes of carnal men; and yet as the seed is the choicest which is laid by for sowing, the Gospel is most choice and excellent to true believers; like seed, it has a generative virtue through divine influence; and whereas unless sown into the earth, it brings forth no fruit, so neither does the word, unless it has a place in the heart, where, as seed in t”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 12:13: Distributing to the necessity of saints,.... Or "communicating", as many versions render the word; "distributing" more properly belongs to the officers of the church, the deacons, and communicating to the members of it in common. All men in general are to be relieved that are in want, even our very enemies, and particularly such as are our own flesh and blood, nearly related to us, aged parents, &c. and especially they that are of the household of faith, here called "saints"; and indeed, such only come under the care and notice of a church: and they are such, whom Go”