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Using the Gospel as the Ultimate Example in Biblical Exposition

The term "Gospel" originates from the Old English "godspell," meaning "good message" or "good news," which translates the Greek euaggelion [5]. This "good news" centers on the person and work of Jesus Christ, proclaiming that the Savior has entered the world [1]. The Gospel is not merely a historical account but is understood as the power of God for salvation (Rom 1:16) [2]. It reveals the grace of God and brings life and immortality to light through Jesus (2 Tim 1:10) [2].

The Gospel serves as the ultimate example in biblical exposition because it presents Christ as the central figure and the culmination of God's redemptive plan. The four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—provide distinct yet complementary perspectives on Christ's life, ministry, death, and resurrection [1, 5]. Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King of God's kingdom, Mark as a prophet mighty in deed and word, and John emphasizes his divine nature [1]. These narratives collectively portray Jesus as the supreme example of faithful endurance (Heb 12:2) [13].

The Person of Christ as the Gospel's Core

Central to the Gospel is the excellency and glory of Christ, who is depicted as God (John 1:1-5), the Son of God (Matt 3:17), and one with the Father (John 10:30) [3]. He is the image of God (Col 1:15) and the Creator (John 1:3) [3]. His roles as Mediator, Prophet, Priest, King, and Judge underscore his multifaceted significance in God's plan [3]. Exposition of any biblical text, therefore, ultimately points to Christ, as he is the one who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies and inaugurates the new covenant [13].

The Gospel also highlights Christ's sinlessness and sincerity, presenting him as an example for believers [4]. He committed no sin (1 Pet 2:22), offering a perfect life that contrasts with the universal sinfulness of humanity [4, 6]. This perfect example is crucial because biblical exposition often addresses the problem of sin and the need for redemption.

The Gospel's Message of Salvation

The Gospel's message is fundamentally about salvation from sin. The Bible consistently teaches that all human beings are born sinners (Ps 58:3) [6]. Sin is not merely a transgression but a rebellion against God, characterized by insolence and arrogance (Ps 19:13) [8]. It is described as a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude, and disobedience [7]. The apostle Paul argues in Romans that both Gentiles and Jews are equally under sin's power and cannot earn God's favor through their own actions (Rom 1:18–3:20) [9]. To claim to be without sin is to make God a liar (1 John 1:10) [10].

In this context of universal sin, the Gospel proclaims God's solution through Christ. It is "good tidings of great joy for all people" (Luke 2:10-11) [2]. The Gospel is the means by which God establishes souls (Rom 16:25) [12]. It is described as "glorious" and "everlasting" (2 Cor 4:4; Rev 14:6) [2]. The preaching of the Gospel is a stewardship entrusted to ministers (1 Cor 9:17) [2].

The Gospel as a Hermeneutical Lens

When approaching biblical exposition, the Gospel provides a crucial hermeneutical lens. Every part of Scripture, from the Old Testament prophecies to the New Testament epistles, can be understood in light of Christ's redemptive work. For instance, the Old Testament foreshadows the Gospel, as it was "preached under the old testament" (Heb 4:2) [2].

Exposition that centers on the Gospel emphasizes God's grace and the transformative power of Christ. It moves beyond mere moral instruction to highlight the divine initiative in salvation. The sincerity of the Gospel's doctrines (1 Pet 2:2) and the sincerity with which it should be preached (2 Cor 2:17) are also important considerations [4]. Even when the Gospel is preached without sincerity by some, its inherent power remains (Phil 1:16) [4].

The ultimate goal of Gospel-centered exposition is to glorify God. When people respond to the Gospel, they glorify God by giving thanks and acknowledging Him as the author of grace [11]. This includes their "professed subjection to the Gospel of Christ," which refers to the doctrine of grace, life, and salvation through Christ [11].

In summary, the Gospel serves as the ultimate example in biblical exposition because it:

Therefore, any faithful exposition of Scripture will ultimately lead back to the person and work of Jesus Christ, the central message of the Gospel.

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: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
  4. 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; ”
  5. Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
  6. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
  7. Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
  8. Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
  9. Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
  10. 1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
  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. Romans (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Romans 16:25: Here the apostle solemnly closes his epistle with a magnificent ascription of glory to the blessed God, as one that terminated all in the praise and glory of God, and studied to return all to him, seeing all is of him and from him. He does, as it were, breathe out his soul to these Romans in the praise of God, choosing to make that the end of his epistle which he made the end of his life. Observe here, I. A description of the gospel of God, which comes in in a parenthesis; having occasion to speak of it as the means by which the power of God establishes souls, an”
  13. Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 12:2: 12:2 Jesus is the supreme example of faithful endurance (3:1). Our endurance in the Christian life will depend on our keeping our eyes on Jesus—staying focused on him and his work on our behalf. • Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith: Jesus has accomplished everything necessary for faith under the new covenant to be a reality. • disregarding its shame: Crucifixion was the most shameful form of execution, meant to humiliate and torture the person crucified. It was used only for slaves and criminals who were not Roman citizens. Christ treated th”
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