I’m convinced 1 Cor 15 is the best passage on the gospel in the entire bible. I’m constantly amazed at how few Christians even know of this passage, Let alone can explain the gospel from it. I’m even more amazed at those who quote it, give it lip service and then ignore its narrative structure.
What do the scriptures say the gospel is?
Lets have a look.
Today we continue my series on – What is the Gospel? The series has several posts and it forms the biblical basis for my Gospel page. The first post has all the links for the series.
Contents
Paul gives the clearest outline of the content of the gospel message in 1 Cor 15.1-5. This passages speaks into each of the categories of background, content, intent and effects of the gospel to varying degrees.
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received:
that Christ died (for our sins) in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Paul is going to remind the Corinthians of the gospel he preached to them, they received and in which they stand (1 Cor 15.1). The same gospel message by which they are being saved (1 Cor 15.2). This is the same gospel message he says is God’s power of salvation for all who believe (Rom 1.16).
Paul received this gospel from Christ (1 Cor 15.3; Gal 1.12). The apostles confirmed this was the same gospel message they preached (1 Cor 15.3; Gal 2.2). It is the apostolic gospel of salvation.
From this definition I derive the following points.
1) The gospel is primarily about Christ
that Christ died (for our sins) in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
The primary emphasis of the gospel is not on us, its about Christ. Christ died, he was buried, he was raised and he appeared. The gospel is primarily about Christ, not us.
2) The gospel relates a sequence of events in Christ’s life
The narrative content of the gospel message described is;
that Christ died (for our sins) in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
These four points reflect the sequence of Jesus major life events and form a basic narrative. The story of Jesus’ life details many things about what Jesus said and did. In 1 Cor 15.1-5, the death and the resurrection of Christ are given the highest importance in this gospel narrative.
The references to the burial and appearance of Christ are key points which promote the four point narrative sequence. Christ’s burial has significance for Paul. He applies this element of the narrative sequence to believers when discussing their spiritual baptism (Rom 6.4; Col 2.12). The appearance of Christ provides proof that Christ rose from the dead.
Paul’s primary topic of discussion in chapter 15 is the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is a significant element in the gospel, without which the Corinthians would still be ‘in their sins’ (1 Cor 15.17). (cf Rom 6.11; Paul sees believers participating in the gospel events of Christ’s death and resurrection. To omit the resurrection of Christ in the gospel message is tantamount to leaving people still in their sins.)
Paul mentions further elements yet to be accomplished in Jesus’ life. He mentions these in 1 Cor 15.22-24;
[22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
[23] But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits,
then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
[24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
[25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
From this sequence we may possibly add the following to the content of the gospel narrative;
- 5) (Implied – Christ ascended into heaven)
- 6) Christ will come again (15.23)
- 7) Christ will judge and reign (15.24-25; cf Rom 2.16; Acts 17.31)
The resurrection of those who belong to Christ (1 Cor 15.22) is the ‘gospel hope’ of resurrection previously mentioned. His destruction of every rule, authority and power describe his end time judgment (Rom 2.16; Acts 17.31). The final element of the narrative describes Christ delivering the Kingdom to God the Father.
3) The sequence of events in Christ’s life cannot be separated from a large number of concepts
The gospel is primarily about Christ and it relates a sequence of events in his life. But there are a large number of concepts bound up with these.
Jesus is the promised Christ
that Christ died (for our sins) in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
The passage refers to Jesus as Christ. As we have seen in previous Steps, the intent of gospel proclamation is to declare Jesus the Christ, the Son of God.
Remember again, Christ or Christos (Gk.) means ‘Messiah and anointed one’. The root of the verb chrio, in Greek meant ‘to smear, rub, spread.’ In the LXX, because of the connection with ‘rubbing or smearing oil,’ the term was associated with ‘one who had been anointed, or set apart, for a special task.’ In the Hebrew Bible, the ‘anointed ones’ were the king and the high priest, occasionally a prophet (all three offices are associated with Jesus; cf Jn 6.14; Heb 9.11; Rev 19.16). In later Jewish writings in Greek, Christos came to mean ‘the Messiah.’ The Christ is the expected, ‘end time,’ messianic figure and the title draws upon God’s promise to David of an unending heir to his throne (2 Sam 7.14). This era would be initiated by a figure who would actualise the promise of the end time reign of David’s line. (‘Christ’, Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, Loc 4917 of 55513)
Jesus is declared the Christ he is the figure who actualises the end time reign of David’s line.
In accordance with the Old Testament Scriptures
that Christ died (for our sins) in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
The passage twice mentions ‘in accordance with the scriptures’. Paul is referring to the Old Testament background of the gospel message. That is the covenant promises, the scriptural prophecies of God and the Davidic ancestry of Jesus. These have been fulfilled in his birth, life, death and resurrection (Mt 2:17,23; 4:14; 13:14; 26:54,56; 27:9; Mk 14:49; Lk 4:21; 22:37; 24:44; Jn 12:38; 13:18; 15:25; 17:12; 19:36; Acts 1:16; 3:18; 13:27; 13:33). We have seen this theme in the last Step.
Sin and Salvation
that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
Paul says to the Corinthian C3 Saints, ‘that Christ died for our sins’. This feasibly could imply a great many things. However basing doctrine on implications rather than explicit text is a bit of a slippery slope.
At the very least Paul says what he means here. Paul and the Corinthians sinned. Christ died for those sins. We could extend this to say Jesus died for the sins of all believers. The explicit statement does not assign any benefit to Christ’s death.
In Step 4 ‘Looking for repeated patterns in the evangelistic preaching in Acts’ I will specifically look out for instances where;
a) the hearers are told Jesus died for their sins (as we see here),
b) the hearers are explicitly convicted of sin, and
c) there is an explanation given for why Jesus died.
In other locations we can see Paul understand the crucifixion and death of Jesus in terms of new covenant, substitution and incorporation. So as an aside I will spell these out;
New Covenant
When Israel was in slavery to Egypt a passover lamb was sacrificed and its blood was smeared on the door lintel. Those who were covered by the blood of the lamb were protected from God’s judgement (Ex 12). Israel’s deliverance from Egypt is the birth of their nation, the event that after which Israel was called the son of God (Ex 4.22; Hos 11.1). Israel was called to remember this great act of deliverance throughout their history. Christians likewise have been introduced the New Covenant where Jesus is the lamb of God (Jn 1.36; Acts 8.32; 1 Cor 5.7; 1 Pet 1.19; Rev 5.6f).
Substitution
Jesus died our death as our representative and as a substitutionary death. He stood in our place and shouldered the wrath and punishment due us for our sins (Rom 3.25; 5.9; 8.3; Gal 2.20b; 1 Pet 3.18).
Incorporation
We were crucified with him and we died with him. We died to sin when we were incorporated into the death of Christ (Rom 6.3-8; 7.4; Gal 2.20a; 2 Cor 5.14; 1 Pet 2.24).
Benefits
His death was for our good; his death procured forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and justification in God’s sight.
This completes my study of Step 2 – ‘Look for definitions of the ‘gospel’. It is just a small step. But a significant one.
1 Corinthians 15.1-5,22-24 is the clearest outline of the gospel’s content in the New Testament. We have examined the passage and found the content of the gospel reflects 4 distinctive features. These are;
- The gospel is primarily about Christ
- The gospel relates a sequence of events in Christ’s life
- The sequence of events in Christ’s life cannot be separated from various aspects
This is our definition of the gospel. Where we see these elements together we know the gospel is being preached even though the word gospel is not used.
The key events in the sequence are;
- 1) that Christ died (15.3)
- 2) that he was buried (15.4a)
- 3) that he was raised on the third day (15.4b)
- 4) that he appeared (15.5)
then Paul continues speaking about the issue at hand (resurrection), soon afterwards the narrative continues;
- 5) (Implied – Christ ascended into heaven)
- 6) Christ will come again (15.23)
- 7) Christ will judge and reign (15.24-25; cf Rom 2.16; Acts 17.31)
The core and non-negotiable elements of the gospel are the death and resurrection of Jesus who is named Christ. This conforms to what we found in Step 1, where we saw the Matthew, Mark, Luke and John present the gospel as the story of Jesus.
1 Cor 15.1-5,22-24 outlines the content of the gospel and we should see if the evangelistic preaching in Acts conforms to this gospel outline. In Step 4 – ‘Looking for repeated patterns in the evangelistic preaching in Acts’ I will do so.
This ends today’s post. In the next post we will have a look at various passages where people are described as proclaiming the gospel.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
