As was stated in Part II, the words preach the gospel occur 11 times in the New Testament. Preach the word appears twice Acts 16:6 and II Timothy 4:2. In addition, the words gospel of Christ is used 11 times. In order to determine the meaning of preach the gospel and preach the word, the gospel of Christ must be included. In a later part of the series those terms will be linked to obedience. But first, there is but a minor difference in the words gospel and word. They both refer to Jesus Christ but each in a different context.

Gospel (occurs 101times in 95 verses) is a translation of the Greek word  eu)agge/lion (pronounced: yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on) which means good news, a good message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The words gospel of Christ is used 11 times in 11 verses, so it must be concluded that the use of gospel in all of its many uses refers to Jesus, except in two instances (II Corinthians and Galatians 1:6 where gospel is used as another gospel, a message different from the good news). God planned the gospel before the foundation of the world as Peter wrote Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, … (I Peter 1:20) Peter repeated to the believers of that day, many who were renouncing Jesus due to false teachers and persecution the message they heard in the beginning Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God (I Peter1:20).

The word gospel of Christ and all the other uses of the word has a content that is all encompassing and in that all encompassing content is found the meaning of preach the gospel.  He content is (1) God planned it, (2) Jesus was born, (3) he lived the law perfectly, (4) he died on the cross for sin (5) he was the perfect sacrifice God demanded in order to save the world, (6) he was buried and rose, (7) he ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of his father, (8) he reigns forever. That is the good news called the gospel and Jesus is the gospel, the good news of salvation.

Paul told Timothy to preach the word which is a reference to the content of the gospel outlined in the preceding paragraph. It is ordered speech with specific content and in this context Paul gives Timothy a charge to preach the message of Jesus Christ whether it be in season or out of season meaning acceptable or not to the hearers, convenient or inconvenient, favorable or unfavorable. In other words, preach the truth no matter the situation.

John wrote in John Chapter 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.4  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. The word is the gospel; the word is the good news of salvation; the word is Jesus Christ and that is what Paul preached and what Paul told Timothy to preach.

© 01-23-2012 DEC

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