Presenting the Gospel Message Without Biblical Examples Effectively
The "gospel" (Greek evangelion) fundamentally means "good message" or "good news" [5]. This message centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ [7]. Early Christian preachers, known as evangelistai (evangelists), proclaimed the intelligence that the Savior had come into the world [5].
The core content of the gospel, according to Paul, is "Jesus Christ and him crucified" [7]. Paul explicitly states that he determined to know nothing else among the Corinthians, emphasizing that Christ's person and offices are the sum and substance of the gospel [7]. This focus means that the gospel is not primarily about human wisdom or eloquent speech [3, 4, 8]. Paul clarifies that he was sent "not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" [3, 4]. Adam Clarke notes that the excellence of the gospel message concerning Christ and salvation is so supreme that it dignifies any language used to convey it, rather than relying on rhetorical arts [8].
The preaching of the gospel should be characterized by sincerity [6]. It is a doctrine of grace, life, and salvation by Christ, of which Christ himself is the author, the mediator, and the very subject [10]. The apostle Paul's ambition was to proclaim the gospel where Christ had not yet been named, so as not to build on another's foundation [1]. This highlights a missionary impulse inherent in the gospel message.
While the New Testament contains four specific "Gospels" (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that provide historical accounts of Christ's person and work [5], the broader concept of "the gospel" refers to the message itself, which can be proclaimed without direct quotation of these specific biblical narratives. For instance, Mark's Gospel is traditionally understood to derive its information mainly from Peter's discourses, suggesting an oral tradition preceding the written text [2]. The doctrine of Christ, or the gospel, has "principles" which are considered the easier parts of the message [9]. These principles are not to be abandoned but serve as foundational truths [9]. The effectiveness of the gospel message does not depend on human eloquence or "fleshly wisdom" but on its inherent truth about Christ [3, 4, 6, 8].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 15:20 (LEB) — And so, having as my ambition to proclaim the gospel where Christ has not been named, in order that I will not build on the foundation belonging to someone else,”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Mark, Gospel according to — It is the current and apparently well-founded tradition that Mark derived his information mainly from the discourses of Peter. In his mother's house he would have abundant opportunities of obtaining information from the other apostles and their coadjutors, yet he was "the disciple and interpreter of Peter" specially. As to the time when it was written, the Gospel furnishes us with no definite information. Mark makes no mention of the destruction of Jerusalem, hence it must have been written before that event, and probably about A.D. 63. Th”
- 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.”
- 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.”
- 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”
- 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; ”
- 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”
- 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.”
- 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”
- 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”