What, exactly, is the gospel?

[_Coggins7]

Believe that Jesus Christ existed, that He died for your sins, repent of your sins, and no matter the evidence continue to believe that Jesus Christ existed and died for your sins. Oh, and it would be helpful to give someone who tells you that money.

Well, on the upside, its probably better than giving your money to the government.

[_Phaedrus Ut]

The English noun gospel comes is the translation of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον (euaggelos). It's normally translated as "good news" or as a verb to preach the good news. Interesting enough the word isn't common in Greek Literature. One of the best known usages is in Aristophanes. It is generally used for bringing news of victories of other events.

The word really got it's current usage as both a noun and a verb from the letters of Paul. A good example is how Paul refers to "the gospel of god" of which he is the apostle in Thess. 2:2 & Cor 11:7. The evidence suggests it was the Pauline communities that the present usage of the word took hold and spread to the broader Christian communities. It's this later anachronistic Christian vocabulary that Book of Mormon writers dubiously use.

If you look at the Gospels of the New Testament the use is scattered. The noun "gospel" is missing from both the Gospel of John as well as the Johannine Epistles. It is used often as a verb.

The Gospel of Luke does not use the word "gospel" as a noun. However, both Luke and Acts use the word as a verb meaning "to announce" or "preach".

The Gospel of Matthew uses it not in the modern or Pauline definition. It's strictly Jesus' message about the coming of the kingdom, like the message of John the Baptist, not regarding belief in Jesus see Matt 4:23 & 9:25.

The Gospel of Mark is interesting there are uses of "gospel" like Mark 1:1 that are clear additions of a later scribe. But Mark 1:1 does see to be a pointer to Mark 1:14-15 showing a transition from John the Baptists preaching of repentance to Jesus' own call of repentance and message of the kingdom. Also unique in the Markan Gospel are the passages that are source matterial for Matthew but Matthew specifically omits the usage of the word Gospel. Like Mk 1:15/Mt4:17, Mk8:35/Mt16:25.

By contrast, authors in The Book of Mormon use a spiritual vocabulary such as the use of the word "gospel" as a noun that post dates the life of Jesus and is more reflective of 2nd century Christian communities. Good examples of this are:

Ether 4:18
Therefore, repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and believe in my gospel, and be baptized in my name; for he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned; and signs shall follow them that believe in my name.

Mormon 9:22-24
For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature; And he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned; And these signs shall follow them that believe--in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover...

Here is a great example of many of the repeated problems with the Book of Mormon. Ether predates Paul and the early Christian writers by some 2000 years but chooses this post-Jesus Christian vocabulary usage. Oh and for the record both these passages are just quotations from Mark 16:15-18. Which first is a problem just to crib from the New Testament but that happens a lot and isn't problematic for a lot of TBM. However this is even more unique. Mark 16:9-20 is referred to as the long ending of Mark. It's a late addition. It's not part of the original text. The ending is absent from the two oldest Greek manuscripts, from the Old Latin codex Bobiensis , the Sinaitic Syriac manuscript, about one hundred Armenian manuscripts, and the two oldest Georgian manuscripts. It was unknown to Clement of Alexandria and Origen. Eusebius and Jerome specifically state the ending was unknown to them and was absent from the oldest Greek copies known to them

It's a bit condemning that the Book of Mormon not only quotes Mark from the KJV New Testament, but in doing so chooses a non-authentic section added by a scribe in the 2nd century.

Phaedrus


//Sorry for the long post but I just decided to follow my train of thought from the usage of Gospel.

[_Gazelam]

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of salvation. It embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men in the highest heaven hereafter. It is the covenant of salvation which the Lord makes with men on earth.

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation from God on how to conduct ourselves. God speaks to us and teaches us through his spirit on the things we need to do to improve our character. The Holy Ghost acts as personal scripture, that is to say a personal gospel, to guide us.

[_Boaz & Lidia]

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation from God on how to conduct ourselves. God speaks to us and teaches us through his spirit on the things we need to do to improve our character. The Holy Ghost acts as personal scripture, that is to say a personal gospel, to guide us.

And is this exclusive to only LDS?

This claim is shot full of holes with the millions of spiritual experiences claimed by the billions of other non Mormons around the globe.

And don't give me the typical tripe of "some good in all churches and people".

Additionally, who decides which of our personal revelations is divine?

What if the spirit tells me that Tommy Monson is NOT a prophet of God? Am I wrong?

Lets say I get the revelation that beer is a "mild drink made from barley" and therefore drink beer. Plus I drink iced coffee as well. When the stake pres asks if I "keep the WoW" am I lying if I say YES?

Who is to say the revelations that the Lafferty brothers received to apply grisly throat slitting blood atonement on their sister-in-law and baby were NOT from God?

[_Jersey Girl]

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the plan of salvation. It embraces all of the laws, principles, doctrines, rites, ordinances, acts, powers, authorities, and keys necessary to save and exalt men in the highest heaven hereafter. It is the covenant of salvation which the Lord makes with men on earth.

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation from God on how to conduct ourselves. God speaks to us and teaches us through his spirit on the things we need to do to improve our character. The Holy Ghost acts as personal scripture, that is to say a personal gospel, to guide us.

Gaz,

Regarding our exchanges on another thread. Had you made the same statement above and removed the word "keys" and exchanged "exalt men" to "exalt God". You would have essentially stated EV belief.

Regarding this statement in particular:

When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, we receive revelation from God on how to conduct ourselves. God speaks to us and teaches us through his spirit on the things we need to do to improve our character. The Holy Ghost acts as personal scripture, that is to say a personal gospel, to guide us.

This is nearly exactly what I posted to you on the other thread to demonstrate why there is no need for continuing revelation from a living prophet. According to the Bible, the "living prophet" is the Holy Spirit that dwells in our hearts.

Does that make sense?

[_Gazelam]

Jersey,

Im glad that the long amount of time you have spent among the Mormons has had such a great effect on you. We are almost in sync now in our beliefs. : )

The Holy Spirit testifies and encourages the people, but a prophet is stil necessary to lead Gods people. What were all those epistles written for? Gods Prophet and Apostles were desperately trying to stave of the coming apostatcy for as long as possible. They corrected false doctrines, such as the need for circumcision after the Law of Moses had ended.

Was the Holy Ghost not present in the time of Adam, Enoch, Noah, Moses, Abraham? The Apostles instructed people on how to keep and maintain their covenants that the Holy Gost might work upon them. Nothing has changed. The need is the same today.

[_Jersey Girl]

This, in particular, Gaz:

We are almost in sync now in our beliefs. : )

I want to respond to this but when/if I do, you won't like it. Let me gather my so called thoughts on the matter and see if I do want to respond.

[_Jason Bourne]

Why is it that a church that claims to be God's true church pays more attention to the latter list than the former?

Because people like you exist Harmony, people who need adult supervision in spiritual things.

The Law of Moses, Harmony, was revealed and instituted in ancient Israel precisely because the preponderance of individuals like you in that culture made in necessary to capacitate the Gospel to an intellectual and psychological level at which it could be comprehended by those such as yourself.

And in any case, your claim about the Church is preposterous nonsense that anyone who has spent any about of time within it and lived the gospel while so doing, understands.

You don't seem to live it in the way you post to people here.

Galatians 5:22-23. You are failing Loran. Please repent.

[_antishock8]

Believe that Jesus Christ existed, that He died for your sins, repent of your sins, and no matter the evidence continue to believe that Jesus Christ existed and died for your sins. Oh, and it would be helpful to give someone who tells you that money.

Well, on the upside, its probably better than giving your money to the government.

Reverend Wright would agree.

[_Jason Bourne]

What makes up the gospel of Jesus Christ?

Love your neighbor?
Love God?
Be kind to others?
Love your enemies?

Or is it... pay your tithing? follow the prophet? avoid coffee, beer, and fornication?

Why is it that a church that claims to be God's true church pays more attention to the latter list than the former?

The Gospel is Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism to enter the saving and justifying covenant with Jesus, receipt of the Holy Ghost and then abiding in Christ.

All else is for us to become sanctified after we are justified. Justification takes place upon faith in Christ and repentance that is witnessed to God and the world by baptism.

Loving you neighbor, loving God, being kind, loving enemies, obeying the commandments, cultivations mercy, meekness, forgiveness and so on are all fruits of the spirit and all part of becoming sanctified.