What the Apostle Paul Preached

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Paul preached the kingdom of God to the gentiles. Yet, some believe that he preached a “different” gospel—again, unaware that it was Paul who pronounced a curse on anyone who did this (Gal. 1:8-9). However, while Paul preached the kingdom of God, notice two verses in Acts showing that he did not neglect the subject of Jesus’ role in the salvation process.

First, Acts 19:8 establishes which gospel he preached: “And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” In many of his epistles, he taught the kingdom to Gentile congregations. Like Jesus, Paul’s message was always the same. He continually preached, taught and referred to the kingdom of God. Next, Paul states in Acts 20:25, 21, “I have gone preaching the kingdom of God…repentance toward God, AND faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” He preached the same gospel to both Jew and Gentile.

Now notice Acts 28:30-31: “And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, AND teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Luke, the writer of the book of Acts, differentiates between preaching about the kingdom of God and preaching about Jesus Christ! While both are vitally important, they are clearly two separate subjects!

In Acts 8:12, the deacon Philip also preached both of these same teachings: “But when they believed Philip…concerning the kingdom of God, AND the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” We see that Philip preached the kingdom of God and differentiated it from the teaching about Christ. Remember, the messenger is not the message.

Notice that these in Samaria were baptized only after “they believed” the right message—not some human idea about it. Also, Christ’s name was taught as an all-important, but additional, understanding.

Jesus Christ’s Person is not the gospel. However, He does stand directly alongside the true gospel and will rule the entire earth when He returns and establishes His kingdom. Do not lose sight of this!

Finally, consider another verse in which Paul himself made a distinction between the gospel and the person of Christ. II Corinthians 11:4 contains this powerful warning: “For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached…or another gospel which you have not accepted, you might well bear with him” (the margin more correctly renders this last phrase “with me”).

Paul wanted the Corinthians to reject false teachers and hold to what he had taught them. The point here is that Paul distinguishes between the teaching of a false Jesus and that of a false gospel. These are—and always have been—two separate things.

Some become confused when they read I Corinthians 15:1-4, thinking that Paul contradicts himself by stating that “the gospel” (I Cor 15:1) is “how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day” (I Cor 3-4). Simply note that “the gospel” reference in I Cor 15:1 is not connected to Christ’s death for our sins and burial in I Cor 15:3-4. Careful reading reveals this. When correctly understood, rather than saying that Christ is the gospel, this passage confirms the opposite, and supports Acts 8:12,20:21-25, 28:31 and II Corinthians 11:4!

Since Jesus preached “repent and believe the gospel,” it should now be clear why. His role must always be preached in conjunction with the kingdom of God, because one cannot enter the kingdom unless he understands and accepts that “Christ died for our sins,” and that person has repented of his sins.

Ask yourself: If Christ IS the gospel—is the kingdom of God—then why did Paul (four times) and Philip speak of them as two separate matters?

Separate Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Recall, yet again, Mark 1:1: “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” What is the “gospel of Jesus Christ”? Is this a different, second gospel? Regarding Paul, we could ask, on the other hand, did he forget about this gospel?

No! But most modern preachers teach that the gospel of Jesus Christ is about Jesus Christ. They claim that He is the kingdom of God—that the gospel of the kingdom refers exclusively to Him. But this is not what the Bible says! The gospel of Christ is His gospel—His message about the KINGDOM OF GOD!

Messengers carry messages. Remember, Christ was a Messenger sent from God with an announcement. His message was not about Himself—it was about the kingdom of God! In John 12:49-50, Jesus said, “For I have not spoken of Myself; but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that His commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto Me, so I speak.”

Plainly, Christ functioned as a messenger—a representative—a SPOKESMAN for the coming kingdom of God.

In John 14:24, Jesus said, “The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s which sent Me.” Christ brought the Father’s message. This should now be clear! Recall that He stated, “The law and the prophets were [preached] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached” (Luke 16:16).

That is what Christ’s Church is doing today, and, through this book, the kingdom of God is being preached to you. This requires context.

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