Gospel Confusion...

[Musicmaster]

Some common sayings among many believers are:

“There's only one gospel throughout all the Bible, and so everyone is saved in the exact same way.”
“Jesus, along with His 12 apostles, and along with Paul, all preached the same gospel message.”
“All that happened was Paul came along later and continued Peter's ministry gospel and ministry, but to the Gentiles.”

Those claims sound very biblical to many, but are the assumptions behind these claims correct?

1. To whom did Jesus and His 12 disciples preach?
2. What was their gospel message?
3. Paul was the apostle to....whom?
4. What was Paul's gospel that he preached?

Please share your thoughts on these questions.

MM

 

[ChristRoseFromTheDead]

There's only one gospel for God's children, but satan's chidren have many "gospels" to choose from

Go in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are the ones entering in through it. For narrow is the gate, and constricted is the way that leads away into life, and few are the ones finding it. Matthew 7:13-14​

 

[Beckworth]

Some common sayings among many believers are:

“There's only one gospel throughout all the Bible, and so everyone is saved in the exact same way.”
“Jesus, along with His 12 apostles, and along with Paul, all preached the same gospel message.”
“All that happened was Paul came along later and continued Peter's ministry gospel and ministry, but to the Gentiles.”

Those claims sound very biblical to many, but are the assumptions behind these claims correct?

1. To whom did Jesus and His 12 disciples preach?
2. What was their gospel message?
3. Paul was the apostle to....whom?
4. What was Paul's gospel that he preached?

Please share your thoughts on these questions.

MM

Because the Jews had been God’s chosen people and because the savior came through them, God chose to preach the gospel to the Jews FIRST. Romans 1:16 says it was for the Jews first and then also for the gentiles. This explains why in every city that Paul preached, he went to the Jews first. But he also preached to the gentiles. Especially when the Jews refused to hear him.

He preached the same gospel, the same message to all. Acts 15:7-9 Peter said that by his mouth the word of the gospel was preached to the gentiles so that they could believe. God is no respecter of persons. It was the same gospel for everyone. He goes on to say, that “He MADE NO DISTINCTION BETWEEN US AND THEM!!” Then in verse 11 he says “WE SHALL BE SAVED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THEY.” There is only one gospel, just like Ephesians 4 says, one Lord , one faith, ( not twofaiths—one for Jews and one for gentiles) and one baptism, and one body ( church, Colossians 1:18). The Bible does not teach two gospels. Christ came to unite all believers—not divide them.

 

[John146]

Some common sayings among many believers are:

“There's only one gospel throughout all the Bible, and so everyone is saved in the exact same way.”
“Jesus, along with His 12 apostles, and along with Paul, all preached the same gospel message.”
“All that happened was Paul came along later and continued Peter's ministry gospel and ministry, but to the Gentiles.”

Those claims sound very biblical to many, but are the assumptions behind these claims correct?

1. To whom did Jesus and His 12 disciples preach?
2. What was their gospel message?
3. Paul was the apostle to....whom?
4. What was Paul's gospel that he preached?

Please share your thoughts on these questions.

MM

I’ll add to your challenge for those claiming only one gospel. Compare the following and answer the question, has the end of the world come? Why not?

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

vs

Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

 

[studier]

Some common sayings among many believers are:

“There's only one gospel throughout all the Bible, and so everyone is saved in the exact same way.”
“Jesus, along with His 12 apostles, and along with Paul, all preached the same gospel message.”
“All that happened was Paul came along later and continued Peter's ministry gospel and ministry, but to the Gentiles.”

Those claims sound very biblical to many, but are the assumptions behind these claims correct?

1. To whom did Jesus and His 12 disciples preach?
2. What was their gospel message?
3. Paul was the apostle to....whom?
4. What was Paul's gospel that he preached?

Please share your thoughts on these questions.

MM

Just re: #4 which many seem to miss due to focusing on a few points in 1Cor15 that really just begin a discussion on the importance of the resurrection of Jesus. Note my highlight of v.33 and read Psalm2 Paul references to see how it explains what "Christ" means.

16 Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen:
17 "The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it.
18 "Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness.
19 "And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.
20 "After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet.
21 "And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
22 "And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.'
23 "From this man's seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Savior-- Jesus--
24 "after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25 "And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.'
26 "Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent.
27 "For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him.
28 "And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
29 "Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb.
30 "But God raised Him from the dead.
31 "He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.
32 "And we declare to you glad tidings-- that promise which was made to the fathers.
33 "God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.'
34 "And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: 'I will give you the sure mercies of David.'
35 "Therefore He also says in another Psalm: 'You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.'
36 "For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption;
37 "but He whom God raised up saw no corruption.
38 "Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins;
39 "and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
40 "Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:
41 "Behold, you despisers, Marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, A work which you will by no means believe, Though one were to declare it to you.'"
42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
43 Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
44 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. (Acts 13:16-44 NKJ)

 

[keepingthingsreal]

I’ll add to your challenge for those claiming only one gospel. Compare the following and answer the question, has the end of the world come? Why not?

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Seriously?

If Matthew 24:14 said "and then shall the end come immediately," then you would have a case, but that is not what it says. Instead, it just says that the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom needs to be preached in all the world before the end can come.

Btw, had the gospel yet been preached to the nation of America in the days of Paul?

 

[Musicmaster]

So, to whom did Jesus have His disciples preaching the Kingdom Gospel, and what was the content of that gospel?

Matthew 10:5-7
5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:
6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

No instruction about the cross, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, ONLY that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The cross was not a part of the kingdom gospel, and for good reason, and yet some still claim they all preached the same gospel.

Why is that?

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Is that what Paul preached as his gospel to Jews and Gentiles that was hidden in God since the foundation of the world, that had the demon princes known of it, that they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory?

1 Corinthians 2:6-8
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

If Paul preached the same gospel as the eleven, then there's a problem:

Galatians 1:11-12
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul knew very well what the eleven were preaching, for he persecuted the believing Jews and proselytes because of the doctrine of the Kingdom Gospel. To him and the other religious leadership in Israel, it was heretical. Otherwise, why was he persecuting them if he did not know what they were preaching?

But here in Galatians 1, we see him stating that what he received from Christ Jesus was not ever what other men had been teaching and preaching. If it's all the same, then, as stated, we have a serious problem here in the traditional dogmas of a singular gospel. Was Paul a liar? Who is it that we saw being correct for his hypocrisy? Was it Paul? No, it was Peter who was in error, corrected by Paul because the gospel Peter preached to Israel simply wasn't the same as what Paul preached to the Gentiles and believing Jews, all who lost their distinctions as Jew and Gentile in Christ Jesus.

Under the Kingdom Gospel preached by Jesus and the eleven, Gentiles were dogs!

Matthew 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

This, with many other things already quoted, such as not going to the Gentiles or even the Samaritans, clearly shows that the Kingdom Gospel is not the same as the Gospel of Grace.

Are you now beginning to see the problem in the confusing claim that it was all the same Gospel? Under the Kingdom Gospel, Gentiles were dogs, with no mention of the cross, the Blood, nothing apart from water baptism unto the remission of sins, which clearly is not true today under Paul's Gospel. Under the Gospel of Grace, all men can be saved and sealed by Holy Spirit, with there being absolutely no mention of that sealing under the Kingdom Gospel.

When one rightly divides the truth, he doesn't end up with truth from falsehood, but rather truth from truth, realizing what was written TO us and what was NOT.

MM

 

[keepingthingsreal]

No instruction about the cross, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, ONLY that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

This is a wild assumption on your part. Jesus regularly told his disciples that he was going to be killed and then resurrected from the dead. Furthermore, he told them that this kingdom would not appear until his second coming.

 

[Hakawaka]

There is only one Gospel and to say there are many would create a situation where Paul puts the other apostles under a curse. Thats just ridicilous.

Who or what gave you the idea that the death burial and resurrection of Jesus IS the gospel? The gospel of the kingdom is more than just Jesus dying for your sins. That is of great importance, but the message is also of the coming KINGDOM of God on the earth.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

I’ll add to your challenge for those claiming only one gospel. Compare the following and answer the question, has the end of the world come? Why not?

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

vs

Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭

 

[Pilgrimshope]

This is a wild assumption on your part. Jesus regularly told his disciples that he was going to be killed and then resurrected from the dead. Furthermore, he told them that this kingdom would not appear until his second coming.

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:21‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭20:28‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:28‬ ‭

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

 

[keepingthingsreal]

No instruction about the cross, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ on the third day, ONLY that the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. The cross was not a part of the kingdom gospel, and for good reason, and yet some still claim they all preached the same gospel.

So, you believe that Jesus instructed his disciples to preach a gospel message that differed from his own?

Here is but a sample of what Jesus preached from Matthew's gospel.

Mat 12:39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 16:21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Mat 17:22
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Mat 17:23
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 26:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

 

[Musicmaster]

This is a wild assumption on your part. Jesus regularly told his disciples that he was going to be killed and then resurrected from the dead. Furthermore, he told them that this kingdom would not appear until his second coming.

Mark 9:31-32
31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

They did come to understand much later, but not until right before His crucifixion, after they had been preaching the Kingdom Gospel which did NOT mention the work of the cross. If you think otherwise, then this is the place to prove it.

MM

 

[John146]

Btw, had the gospel yet been preached to the nation of America in the days of Paul?

America was not a nation. But I'm going with what God's word has said, the gospel was preached in all the world, to all nations, to every creature under heaven. Was Paul lying?

The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world during the time of Jacob's trouble (tribulation) by the 144,000 male Jews and the two witnesses, then the end will come when Christ returns as King.

 

[John146]

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭

Yep, great verses to apply. At this time, after the rejection of Christ by the nation of Israel, we are to only preach the gospel of the grace of God. We are not to preach the gospel of the kingdom anymore.

 

[Musicmaster]

There is only one Gospel and to say there are many would create a situation where Paul puts the other apostles under a curse. Thats just ridicilous.

Who or what gave you the idea that the death burial and resurrection of Jesus IS the gospel? The gospel of the kingdom is more than just Jesus dying for your sins. That is of great importance, but the message is also of the coming KINGDOM of God on the earth.

I noticed that you quoted no scripture for backing, so there's not much to discuss since your post is rooted in your opinion.

However, in answer to your question, Paul's Gospel is precisely that...the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus, and nothing else:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Some believe that Paul was remiss by leaving out water baptism unto remission of sins, but that was no longer the saving Gospel that was given to Paul for him to preach to the Gentiles and believing Jews. The sin of omission is something Paul cannot legitimately be accused of having perpetrated, but some see themselves as qualified to stand with Satan to accuse Paul.

MM

 

[John146]

So, you believe that Jesus instructed his disciples to preach a gospel message that differed from his own?

Here is but a sample of what Jesus preached from Matthew's gospel.

Mat 12:39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 16:21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Mat 17:22
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Mat 17:23
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 26:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Jesus was prophesying to his disciples, and yet, his disciples understood none of what he was saying.

 

[John146]

Seriously?

If Matthew 24:14 said "and then shall the end come immediately," then you would have a case, but that is not what it says. Instead, it just says that the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom needs to be preached in all the world before the end can come.

Btw, had the gospel yet been preached to the nation of America in the days of Paul?

And then shall the end come, not later, but then...

 

[Musicmaster]

So, you believe that Jesus instructed his disciples to preach a gospel message that differed from his own?

Here is but a sample of what Jesus preached from Matthew's gospel.

Mat 12:39
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:
Mat 12:40
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mat 16:21
From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

Mat 17:22
And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
Mat 17:23
And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 26:1
And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said unto his disciples,
Mat 26:2
Ye know that after two days is the feast of the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

Where in those passages do you see it stated that the disciples understood what Jesus was saying?

John 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

The idea that all those quotes show that the disciples understood what He was saying to them, we still have this:

Mark 9:31-32
31 For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
32 But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

So, I hope you can see that what you are assuming into those verses in contrast to this revelation, the assumption simply doesn't hold water.

MM

 

[GWH]

Some common sayings among many believers are:

“There's only one gospel throughout all the Bible, and so everyone is saved in the exact same way.”
“Jesus, along with His 12 apostles, and along with Paul, all preached the same gospel message.”
“All that happened was Paul came along later and continued Peter's ministry gospel and ministry, but to the Gentiles.”

Those claims sound very biblical to many, but are the assumptions behind these claims correct?

1. To whom did Jesus and His 12 disciples preach?
2. What was their gospel message?
3. Paul was the apostle to....whom?
4. What was Paul's gospel that he preached?

Please share your thoughts on these questions.

MM

I think you probably know my answer, but here it is again:

The normative way of stating the Gospel kerygma/GRFS in the NT is “Accept Christ Jesus as Lord” and you will be saved (as in 2CR 4:5 & CL 2:6). The main points of Christian orthodoxy implicit in this statement can be explained or elaborated as follows:

1. There is a/one all-loving and just Lord or God (DT 6:4, JN 3:16, 2THS 1:6), who is both able (2TM 1:12) and willing (1TM 2:3-4) to provide all morally accountable human beings salvation or heaven—a wonderful life full of love, joy and peace forever.

2. Human beings are selfish or sinful (RM 3:23, 2TM 3:2-4, CL 3:5), miserable (GL 5:19-21), and hopeless (EPH 2:12) or hell-bound at the judgment (MT 23:33 & 25:46) when they reject God’s salvation (JN 3:18, RM 2:5-11).

3. Jesus is God’s Messiah/Christ and incarnate Son, the way that God has chosen (JN 3:16, ACTS 16:30-31, PHP 2:9-11) of providing salvation by means of his atoning death on the cross for the payment of the penalty for the sins of humanity (RM 3:22-25 & 5:9-11), followed by his resurrection to reign in heaven (1CR 15:14-28).

4. Thus, every person who hears the NT Gospel needs to repent and accept God in Jesus as Christ/Messiah the Lord or Supreme Commander (LK 2:11, JN 14:6, ACTS 16:31), which means trying to obey His commandment to love one another (MT 22:37-40, JN 13:35, RM 13:9)—forever (MT 10:22, PS 113:2).

5. Then God’s Holy Spirit will establish a saving relationship with those who freely accept Him (RV 3:20) that will eventually achieve heaven when by means of persevering in learning Truth/God’s Word everyone cooperates fully with His will (JN 14:6, 17&26, RM 8:6-17, GL 6:7-9, EPH 1:13-14, HB 10:36, 12:1, JM 1:2-4).

Teachings that are secondary or subsequent to learning the Gospel/GRFS (called the didache, which means teaching) may be very important and requisite for becoming spiritually mature, but they are not most important or necessary to know/believe in order to be saved. The distinction between kerygma/saving faith and didache/working faith was made by Jesus when He commissioned His original twelve disciples minus Judas (MT 28:19-20). This “Great Commission” speaks of both types of information. The kerygma is indicated by verse 19, in which Jesus says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations”.

A Christian disciple is a learner or one who believes the good news about God’s offer of eternal life to all who accept Jesus as Christ, the Lord incarnate. The didache is implicit in verse 20, in which Jesus continues by saying “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” This speaks of the information a disciple needs to know and believe after conversion in order to grow in Christ-likeness regarding how to live the law of love. It is the “all truth” that is taught by the Spirit referred to in John 16:13. Again, it is very important but not necessary for salvation. Witness the thief on the cross in Luke 23:39-43, who had no opportunity to learn the didache after his conversion; although, like Paul (according to Acts 22:3) and most adults, some didachaic truth is learned prior to knowing the kerygma.

The distinction between kerygma and didache can be seen also in 2 Timothy 3:15-17. The scriptures “which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” refers to the Gospel or kerygma. The scriptural teaching that is useful for “training in righteousness, so that the man [or woman per GL 3:28] of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” refers to the didache.
The apostle Paul also employs the difference between kerygma and didache in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. The “foundation… which is Jesus Christ” is the kerygmatic teaching regarding salvation. Paul alludes to the didache when he says that one should be careful how he/she builds upon this foundation.