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Effective Non-Biblical Examples in Communicating the Gospel

The communication of the Gospel, often referred to as "good news" (Greek evangelion) [2], is primarily rooted in the person and work of Jesus Christ [13]. While the biblical narrative itself provides the foundational content, non-biblical examples can serve to illustrate and clarify its truths. The Apostle Paul, for instance, emphasized preaching the Gospel "not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" [4, 7, 14], suggesting that the power of the message does not rely on human eloquence or philosophical arguments alone [12]. However, this does not preclude the use of relatable examples to convey spiritual concepts.

One significant category of non-biblical examples stems from the life and character of Christ himself, which serves as a model for believers and can be used to explain Christian virtues. For example, Christ is presented as an example of sincerity [1], liberality [8], self-denial [9], and intercessory prayer [10]. These qualities, though exemplified perfectly by Christ, are also human virtues that can be understood and appreciated in various cultural contexts. When discussing sincerity, one might point to Christ's blamelessness [1], or when explaining liberality, his self-impoverishment for humanity's sake [8]. Similarly, self-denial, a concept present in many philosophies and ethical systems, finds its ultimate expression in Christ's willingness to forgo worldly comforts and even his own will [9].

The impact of the Gospel on individuals and communities also provides non-biblical examples. The transformation of lives through the acceptance of Christ's message can be a powerful testimony. Paul describes believers as "the epistle of Christ... written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart" [5, 6]. This metaphor suggests that the lives of Christians themselves become living examples, readable by others, demonstrating the reality of the Gospel's power. When the Gentile churches showed liberality to the poor saints in Jerusalem, it led to the glorification of God, as it was seen as a "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ" [11]. Such acts of charity and transformed behavior, while rooted in biblical teaching, manifest in ways that are observable and understandable in everyday life.

Furthermore, the very act of preaching the Gospel, as carried out by evangelists, involves communicating a message that is both divine and relatable [2]. The early apostles, scattered by persecution, "went every where... preaching the word" [15]. This dissemination of the message, often through personal testimony and demonstration of changed lives, created a ripple effect of non-biblical examples. The "good news" (Greek evangelion) [2] was not merely an abstract doctrine but a lived reality that could be observed in the conduct of believers. The sincerity of those who preach the Gospel is also highlighted as crucial [1].

The effectiveness of non-biblical examples lies in their ability to bridge the gap between abstract theological concepts and concrete human experience. While the core message of the Gospel remains constant—the coming of the Savior and his mission [2]—the ways in which this message is illustrated can vary. The Apostle Paul's ministry, which extended "from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum," was characterized by "the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit" [3]. These demonstrations, while supernatural, served as tangible evidence of God's power, providing compelling examples that resonated beyond mere words.

Sources

  1. 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; ”
  2. 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”
  3. 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”
  4. 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.”
  5. King James Version “[KJV] 2 Corinthians 3:3 — Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
  6. II Corinthians “II Corinthians 3:3 (KJV) — Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”
  7. I Corinthians “I Corinthians 1:17 (Geneva1599) — For CHRIST sent me not to baptize, but to preache the Gospel, not with wisdome of wordes, lest the crosse of Christ should be made of none effect.”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Liberality — Pleasing to God -- 2Co 9:7; Heb 13:16. God never forgets -- Heb 6:10. Christ set an example of -- 2Co 8:9. Characteristic of saints -- Ps 112:9; Isa 32:8. Unprofitable, without love -- 1Co 13:3. Should be exercised In the service of God. -- Ex 35:21-29. Toward saints. -- Ro 12:13; Ga 6:10. Toward servants. -- De 15:12-14. Toward the poor. -- De 15:11; Isa 58:7. Toward strangers. -- Le 25:35. Toward enemies. -- Pr 25:21. Toward all men. -- Ga 6:10. In leading to those in want. -- Mt 5:42. In giving alms. -- Lu 12:33. In relieving the destitute. -- Isa 58:”
  9. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Denial — Christ set an example of -- Mt 4:8-10; 8:20; Joh 6:38; Ro 15:3; Php 2:6-8. A test of devotedness to Christ -- Mt 10:37,38; Lu 9:23,24. Necessary In following Christ. -- Lu 14:27-33. In the warfare of saints. -- 2Ti 2:4. To the triumph of saints. -- 1Co 9:25-27. Ministers especially called to exercise -- 2Co 6:4,5. Should be exercised in Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. -- Ro 6:12; Tit 2:12. Controlling the appetite. -- Pr 23:2. Abstaining from fleshly lusts. -- 1Pe 2:11. No longer living to lusts of men. -- 1Pe 4:2. Mortifying sinful lusts. -- Mr ”
  10. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Intercessory — Christ set an example of -- Lu 22:32; 23:34; Joh 17:9-24. Commanded -- 1Ti 2:1; Jas 5:14,16. Should be offered up for Kings. -- 1Ti 2:2. All in authority. -- 1Ti 2:2. Ministers. -- 2Co 1:11; Php 1:19. The Church. -- Ps 122:6; Isa 62:6,7. All saints. -- Eph 6:18. All men. -- 1Ti 2:1. Masters. -- Ge 24:12-14. Servants. -- Lu 7:2,3. Children. -- Ge 17:18; Mt 15:22. Friends. -- Job 42:8. Fellow-countrymen. -- Ro 10:1. The sick. -- Jas 5:14. Persecutors. -- Mt 5:44. Enemies among whom we dwell. -- Jer 29:7. Those who envy us. -- Nu 12:13. Those who ”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 9:13: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration,.... That is, the poor saints at Jerusalem having a specimen, a proof, an experience of the liberality of the Gentile churches ministered to them by the apostles, first, they glorify God; by giving thanks unto him, acknowledging him to be the author of all the grace and goodness which they, and others, were partakers of; particularly for your professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ. The Gospel of Christ is the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which he is the author, as God, the subject m”
  12. 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.”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 2:1: In this passage the apostle pursues his design, and reminds the Corinthians how he acted when he first preached the gospel among them. I. As to the matter or subject he tell us (Co1 2:2), He determined to know nothing among them but Jesus Christ and him crucified - to make a show of no other knowledge than this, to preach nothing, to discover the knowledge of nothing, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Note, Christ, in his person and offices, is the sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great subject of a gospel minister's preaching. His bus”
  14. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 1:17: We have here, I. The manner in which Paul preached the gospel, and the cross of Christ: Not with the wisdom of words (Co1 1:17), the enticing words of man's wisdom (Co1 2:4), the flourish of oratory, or the accuracies of philosophical language, upon which the Greeks so much prided themselves, and which seem to have been the peculiar recommendations of some of the heads of the faction in this church that most opposed this apostle. He did not preach the gospel in this manner, lest the cross of Christ should be of no effect, lest the success should be ascribed”
  15. Acts (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Acts 8:4: Therefore they that were scattered abroad,.... By reason of the persecution in Jerusalem: the seventy disciples, and other ministers of the word; or the hundred and twenty, excepting the apostles, went every where; or went through the countries of Judea and Samaria, as far as Phenice, Cyrus, and Antioch: preaching the word; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions add, "of God", and so some copies; the Gospel, which is the word of God, and not man; which was not of men, nor received from men, but came from God, and by the revelation of Christ; and which was”
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