‘Mid-Acts-ers’ make a DIVISION between what-they-call ‘PAUL’s gospel’ .... and ‘any other’ gospel mentioned in the scriptures. They tout the 3 times Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ as ‘proof’ that he had a unique revelation from God that was different from all other messages of God’s good news.
Firstly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context the day of judgment:
Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
A few verses earlier (Rom 2:7-15), Paul was more specific about ‘the day’ when God will judge the soul of every man, whether good or evil:
Rom 2:5-6 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Paul was not the only one who prophesied that God will expose what is hidden on judgment day. Solomon did:
Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Matthew did (Matt 6:4,6,18). Mark did (Mark 4:22). Luke did:
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Neither was Paul the only one who prophesied about Jesus Christ being the Judge. John did also:
John 5:22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Peter (Acts 10:44) also prophesied that God appointed His Son as Judge, as he preached faith in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus, for anyone who believed to be cleansed from their sins:
Acts 10:38-43 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
43 To him give all the prophets witness,
that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.
Secondly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of being stablished in Christ:
Rom 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,
James taught the saints to be stablished, as they wait for Christ’s return:
James 5:8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Peter also instructed believers to be stablished, as they endure suffering for Christ’s sake:
1 Peter 5:10-11 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ preach that Paul was saying he had distinctive information of salvation, and in order to be saved, a person must trust Christ through Paul’s writings. But the scriptures don’t teach that. In fact, Paul gave a list of men who preached the gospel of Christ’s death and resurrection .... just as he did:
1 Cor 15:3-8, 11 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.
11 Therefore whether it were I (Paul)
or they (Cephas = Peter, the 12, over 500 brothers, James, all the apostles),
so we preach, and so ye believed.
Thirdly, Paul used the term ‘my gospel’
.... in the context of Christ being from David, and of His resurrection:
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
This was not, as 'mid-Acts-ers' contend, part of PAUL's distinctive message. Peter also testified of the same thing at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-28) .... saying that David knew of God’s promise concerning Christ, too (Psa 132:11):
Acts 2:29-32 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; (see Psa 132:11)
31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Matthew taught that Jesus Christ was the son of David (Matt 1:1).
John the Baptist’s father Zacharias also related Christ to David (Luke 1:69).
Luke recorded the birth of Christ in the house and lineage of David (Luke 2:4).
Isaiah prophesied of Christ Who would rule on David’s throne (Isa 9:6-7).
Paul scolded the saints at Corinth for DIVIDING because of which preacher led them to faith in Christ .... yet that is an offense where ‘mid-Acts-ers’ excel:
1 Cor 1:10-13 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith,
I am of Paul;
and I of Apollos;
and I of Cephas;
and I of Christ.
13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Though Apollos only knew the water baptism of John, Aquila and Priscilla expounded to him the way of God more perfectly. Then he helped those that had believed through grace (also see Acts 15:11), and mightily convinced the Jews publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ (Acts 18:24-28). In Christ, there is ‘no difference’ (Acts 15:9 - Peter said it first; Rom 3:22, Rom 10:12) .... and it makes ‘no difference’ which preacher anyone heard to introduce them to faith in Christ:
1 Cor 3:5-8 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
6 I (Paul) have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
8 Now he that planteth (Paul) and he that watereth (Apollos) are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
Clearly, Paul ‘was one’ with Apollos.
They were both ‘one’ in Christ (Rom 12:5, 1 Cor 10:17, Eph 2:16, Col 3:16):
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
There is only ONE faith .... and everyone who is Christ’s is in it:
Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, when Paul penned the words ‘my gospel’ .... he wasn’t being selfish, as the ‘mid-Acts-ers’ are on his account. Paul included other preachers, as Apollos and Peter, to show the unity of believers who belong to Christ:
1 Cor 3:21-23 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas (that’s Peter - John 1:42), or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ unashamedly make Paul’s 'my doctrine’ phrase be a DIFFERENT doctrine than other men’s doctrine:
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
With that method of what-they-call ‘rightly dividing’ .... then Jesus had His own separate 'My doctrine’ too:
John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
‘Mid-Acts-ers’ already have 2 Jesus’. They say ‘the earthly Jesus’ is ‘another Jesus’ (2 Cor 11:4) from ‘the risen, glorified Lord’ who spoke to Paul. If they realized that Paul used the phrase ‘my God’ 7 times .... they’re liable to make Paul’s God be a DIFFERENT God than all the other Biblical writers’ God .... just like they do with Paul’s term ‘my gospel’:
Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (also Rom 1:8; 1 Cor 1:4, 14:18; 2 Cor 12:21; Phil 1:3, Phile 1:4)
When Paul used the phrase ‘my gospel’ .... he did not mean he had the only message of salvation through faith in Christ’s death and resurrection .... as ‘mid-Acts-ers’ teach.
Paul didn’t have the attitude, ‘what’s mine is mine’.
Neither should anyone teach, ‘what’s Paul’s is Paul’s’ and no one else’s.
This is David Dowell, saying, "Think about it!"
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