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Writer's pictureBenjamin Jr. Bacosa

The Case of the Two Gospels

Updated: Mar 7

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It is believed by some quarters that two gospels were saved in the New Testament, one version, they say, is preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God to the Jews, while the other version came about thru the revelation of Christ to Paul to be preached to the gentiles. I would’ve gotten along with this had the former never taught nor mentioned the resurrection of the Messiah, but it did as in the latter, hence the said good news goes beyond the Lord’s kingdom having built on his coming for the brothers with a promise of bringing them to where He is. (John 14:2-4) Jesus was simply alluding here to the rapture of the saints.


The doctrine teaches that the Jews were to be delivered through the gospel preached by the 12 apostles (4 Gospel books), by faith with works, while the Gentiles were to be saved through the gospel by Paul, by faith alone (1 Cor. 15:1-4) hence dividing the body of Christ.


The confusion here must have been rooted in the ministry of John the Baptist (included in the books of the gospel). As we all know Jesus’ appreciation of him was that he is the messenger of God sent to prepare the way for Him. (Matt. 3:2) That being said, John the Baptist, therefore, carries the good news of the kingdom of God (Messianic Age) and the spiritual preparation for the readiness it requires. Hence, he baptizes Jews with water in preparation for the spiritual baptism as anticipated by the prophets for the messianic kingdom, and early on, even Jesus baptizes with water for this purpose. Whereas the Jewish faith (Judaism) never does baptism but physical circumcision as prescribed by the Law.


However, Jesus knows very well beforehand that he will be rejected by the Jews as their Messiah; (Luke 19:41-44) thus his ministry was not for the coming Messianic Kingdom per se, but the laying of the groundwork for the gospel of grace that he will soon be rendering for the forgiveness of all sin. (Luke 22:19-20)


So, what is the gospel? Well, the gospel is contained in the first 4 books of the New Testament, whereto, we will find its synopsis provided in 1 Cor. 15:1-4.



The Roots of the Samaritan Woman by the Well


In the 2nd millennium BC, the Bible tells us that the Israelites captured the land of the Canaanites, known as the region of Samaria, and were assigned to the Tribe of Joseph. After the death of King Solomon (c. 931 BC), the northern tribes of Samaria (10 tribes of Israel) separated from the southern tribes of Judah in Jerusalem, (2 tribes of Israel) and established a separate Kingdom of Israel from that of the Kingdom of Judah. In the Bible, the city of Samaria, became the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel during the 9th and 8th centuries BCE. (Source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


Although the northern kingdom was often stronger than Judah to the south and is greater economically, it was crushed by Assyria in 722 BCE, whereas, the southern kingdom of the Jews remained for a while. The Bible tells us that during captivity, the populace was carried to Assyria, (ten lost tribes of Israel) and was replaced by settlers from the other parts of the Empire. (2 Kings 17:6 & 2 Kings 17:24). Due to the commandment for the Israelites to be dedicated to God, (Deut. 7:2-4), the Jewish southern kingdom kept themselves away from these people of Samaria, more so, from having intermarriage relations with them. (Joshua 23:6-8)


Earlier on, in the resettlement, lions attacked and killed some of the new settlers, so the king of Assyria sent one of the exiled priests of Israel back to Bethel to teach the settlers how to ‘pacify’ God, the true owner of their new land. He taught the new residents how to worship the LORD, the God of Israel, alongside their own respective pagan gods. (2 Kings 17:24-34)


Over time, however, some Jews made their living in Samaria, They decided to stay there and had intermarriage with the locals, having assimilated themselves as among the Samaritans,


They called themselves Bene-Yisrael (“Children of Israel”), Other Jews call them simply Shomronim (Samaritans); in the Talmud (a rabbinical compendium of law, lore, and commentary), they are called "Kutim" suggesting they are rather descendants of Mesopotamia. cuthaeans, who settled in Samaria after the Assyrian conquest. (source: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)


In later generations (and in Jesus’ day), these so-called Samaritans were hated by the Jews because of their mixed Jewish and foreign ancestry. and due to their differing Jewish and pagan religious practices, they were not considered to be Jews (see 2 Kings 17:33-34).


This was the roots of the Samaritan woman by the well, with Jesus. (John 4:4-26)


Body of Christ: Beginnings


On Sunday of the Passover, around 32 to 33 AD, Jesus was resurrected, After spending 40 days with the disciples, He led them to Bethany in the Garden of Olives. He told them not to leave Jerusalem and to wait for the Holy Spirit who would be sent to them, where, He then ascended to the Father. (Acts 1:3-4; Luke 24:50-51)


It was, fifty days from Passover, and on the observance of the one-day feast of Pentecost, The Holy Spirit came as promised. Peter spoke and shared the gospel, where, right on the very same day, of those who heard the gospel, 3,000 Jews were converted to the faith (Jewish brothers). Thereon the Body of Christ was established, (Acts 2:14-41)


Immediately, Jews of the Judaism religion started the persecution of the church, A believer who stood out among the brothers, named Stephen, was stoned to death, causing the church to flee out of Jerusalem in panic. All, except the apostles, left and got scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Among them, Philip, who went to the city of Samaria and shared the gospel, (Acts 8:1-5)


The Samaritans, whom the Jewish people hated, due to racial and religious reasons, were astounding, Though of mixed-race and religious practices, the Samaritans responded well to the gospel {of the 12} that Philip preached, necessitating the apostles in Jerusalem to send Peter and John to the city. They all prayed for them, that they may receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by the apostles. Hence there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:4-8 & 14-17)


Cornelius the Gentile


At Caesarea, there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort in the Roman Army, a devout man who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God. An angel of God came to him and advised him to have Peter brought to his house. (Acts 10:1-8)


About 34 AD, a year or so from Pentecost, The day came and Peter rose and went, some of the Jewish brothers from Joppa accompanied him. On the following day, they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. When Peter opened his mouth and shared the gospel with them, while still speaking, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the word. And the brothers from among the circumcised (Jewish brothers) who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles, and they were saved. (see Acts 10:24-48)


Paul the late Apostle


In about the same year, there was a man called Saul, a Jewish pharisee with a mission to persecute the Jewish brothers. Whenever he found any, he took them away as prisoners to Jerusalem. One day, along his journey towards Damascus, he had an encounter with the Lord, The Lord called him to serve Him. Thereon, he became to be known as Paul the apostle.


After several days he came to have a meeting with the 12 apostles in Jerusalem, on their acceptance, he stayed and moved there freely, speaking to the people boldly in the name of the Lord. He, however, encountered some problems in debating with Grecian Jews (proselytes) who planned to kill him. The brothers brought him down to Caesarea, sending him off to Troas to safety.


Sometime later in 41 AD, or 7 years after Pentecost, he met Barnabas*, who brought him to the church in Antioch, where he stayed for one year teaching a great number of people. On a day while worshiping, the Holy Spirit spoke and sent Barnabas and Paul to mission work (48 AD). Thereon, Paul went to different places outside of Judea spreading the gospel to the gentile nations, and establishing local churches wherever he goes for the glory of the Lord. (Acts 13:2-3)


*Note: Acts 4:36-37 tells us about the man Barnabas (which translated means Son of Encouragement) so called by the 12. He is a Levite of Cyprian birth whose real name is Joseph and an owner of a tract of land. On being converted to the faith by the apostles, He and others like Ananias and Saphirra (Acts 5:1-11) sold his land brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.


It will be recalled, that all the believers then were together and had all things in common; and they would sell their property and possessions and share them with all, to the extent that anyone had need. (Acts 2:44-45)




The Church in Ephesus


In Paul's second journey, about a year from the first journey (check out the map) he decided to do some intensive missionary work in Ephesus, the capital of the Roman province of Asia, it is strategically located for commerce, surpassed in size and importance only by Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch. Due to the hard labor of Paul, it became the third most important city in the history of early Christianity--Jerusalem, Antioch, then Ephesus. (source: The Bible Almanac by J.I.Packer, Merril C. Tenney, William White Jr; Paul and his Journeys, ppg. 555)


Tradition tells us that Paul's letter to the Ephesians was written in AD 61-62, [resource] some ten years later from when he first set foot on his second missionary journey, let's break it down through an outline, as follows:

  • Election by the Father..........................1:3-6

  • Redeemed by the Son........................1:7-12

  • Sealed by the Holy Spirit...................1:13-14

  • Salvation by Grace..................................2:1-10

  • Oneness of Jews and Gentiles.......2:11-22

  • The revelation of the mystery.........3:1-13

By AD 96, the date when {the book of} Revelation was written [resource] Ephesus stands as the chief of the seven churches in Asia. Paul and John both spent some time there, with John being in the position of leadership at the time of his exile.


Now, concerning the 7 letters to the churches, the proponents of the two gospels surmise that the seven churches of Revelation are Jewish in origin, supposedly subject to the Gospel of the coming Kingdom, who were to be judged by their deeds. But regardless, as we can see, as in the case of the church in Ephesus above, they received the Gospel from Paul (revelation from Christ). Ergo, there should be no 7 letters to the churches. For followers of Paul ought to be in the first resurrection (1 Cor. 15:51-52) to claim their reward in the Bema Seat of Christ; never in the White Throne judgment, where (as to their understanding) they will be put through judgment by deeds.


Considering the timing of the letters, it goes to show that contrary to their teaching, the purpose of the 7 letters is to warn the Body of Christ to take heed that no one would miss the boat when it happens.


The Chronology of the Bible


Let us now consider the chronology of the bible. The books of the Bible are not arranged in the order of chronological dates but are arranged in the order of their subject matter taken up in the books. Hence, you have the New Testament books as you have them in your bible now, otherwise, it would be seen that the supposed gospel of Paul (1 Cor. 15:1-4) was preached at the beginning of his ministry, sometime in the year C.E. (A.D.) 34, whereas the gospel narrative of the 12 (4 gospel books), happened sometime in the year C.E.(A.D.) 33, about a year earlier from the time of Paul's ministry. But to have a general idea of how the written (four) gospels were used in the ministry, it would be good to know the dates when they were written. It was said that the four gospel versions have been made available only, in written form, at the [resource] dates that follow:


  1. The gospel according to Mark ‒A.D. 50

  2. The gospel according to Luke ‒ A.D. 58-63

  3. The gospel according to Matthew ‒A.D. 75

  4. The gospel according to John ‒ A.D. 90-100


Looking at the dates above would show that there could not have been two gospel versions, as Paul's followers, who don’t have that of Paul’s in detailed written form, would have been using the written gospel version of the 12 as a reference in the study of salvation. And just as well, everyone else in the body of Christ (Church) would have done (cf. 1 Cor. 15:5-7; 2 Peter 3:15-16) in promoting the Christian doctrine as it is today. Thus, there is only one gospel as there is only one body of Christ. (see 1 Cor. 12:12-31)


Now let us look at the gospel preached by Peter and compare it with Paul's by aligning their spoken words. Peter delivered his gospel on the day of Pentecost, which I believe is the same good news (Acts 10:34-48) delivered to the Roman centurion, Cornelius (uncircumcised gentile), which saved him and his whole household and friends; excerpt as follows (Acts 2:22-36):


22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,   ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 Whom God hath raised up, [...] 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. [...] 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

Now here is Paul’s gospel as mentioned in 1 Cor. 15:1-4 as follows:



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: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last, of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

Trust your eyes and compare the gospels preached by both Peter and Paul respectively; now, were they teaching a different gospel from the other?


Based on the preceding, you can judge for yourself that the doctrine of the two gospels does not hold water...



For further reading, choose Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth from the posts on display below... tap (See All)



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