2 Corinthians--a Very Misunderstood Epistle

Many commentaries focus on Paul's defense of his ministry. Paul's main purposes have little to do with defending his ministry. The most common themes are: 1) reconciliation--between us and God, between fellow believers within the church, and between Paul and the Corinthians; 2) exhortation to ministry--Paul has been steadfast and uses his example to spur the Corinthians to look beyond their petty squabbles and reach out to the world, no matter how difficult it will be, because we have God and the rest of the world needs to be in relationship with Him. Be bold, be brave, get out of the pew!

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

What is the Good News?

This last weekend I heard a sermon about Romans 1 and Paul's coopting the phrase 'good news' from Caesar.  Most Christians can probably describe what the Good News is post-Resurrection. The gospels also describe that Christ 'preached God's Good News' (Mark 1.14). What did Christ preach when He preached Good News?

He wouldn't preach that His death and resurrection would bring about our salvation. His disciples and others in His audience wouldn't have understood any of that. In fact, the gospels describe how the disciples struggled with the concept that the Messiah had to die at the end of the Messiah's earthly 3-year ministry.

How would you describe God's Good News only from the Hebrew scriptures, which were the only scriptures that Christ had? Remember, Y'shua (Jesus) was teaching from the books of Moses, Psalms and the prophets. His words had to make sense to those in the synagogues, on the hill sides and shores, and villages and towns.

That's going to be my next research project. Maybe there's already an author who's done this that I don't know about. How about you? Join me in this endeavor to understand the Good News as Christ taught and showed it?
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