When we look at the Gospel as preached by the twelve, and the Gospel given to Paul to be preached to Gentiles and Jews alike, it becomes quite clear, apart from over-spiritualizing everything one reads, that the two messages are not one and the same:
The Kingdom Gospel preached by Christ and the twelve:
Proclaimed repentance and water baptism for salvation (Acts 2:38)
Proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom ([URL='Matthew 4:17, Acts 3.19)
Saved and commissioned within Israel’s borders (Matthew 16:13, 16-17)
Taught in Christ’s earthly ministry
Ministered to Jews only (Matthew 10:5, Galatians 2:7-9)
The Gospel of Grace received and taught by Paul:
Proclaimed “believe” alone for salvation (Romans 4:5-6, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4)
Proclaimed the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)
Saved and commissioned outside Israel’s borders (Acts 9:3)
Was taught in Christ’s heavenly ministry (Galatians 1:1, 11-12)
Ministered primarily to Gentiles because of Jewish rejection (Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:7-9)
Paul was not taught by the twelve:
1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
So, Paul was instructed by Christ Jesus, not other men in the mystery, which is the body of Christ, that was hidden in God, not the scriptures or the prophets:
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Ephesians 3:2-7
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
Not given to the twelve, but only to Paul, who then preached it to all others from that point onward. Paul already knew that the eleven were preaching, but THAT is the reason he persecuted them, and killed them. If Paul was only preaching what the others had already been preaching, then all the scriptures stating otherwise make no sense.
1 Corinthians 2:7-9
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.
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
See that? Not even Satan and his demons knew of the Gospel of Grace that would be extended to the Gentiles until after it was revealed to, and preached by Paul. They would not have pushed for the crucifixion of Christ had they known that the kingdom of the Gentiles would be greatly diminished from their clutches through Paul's Gospel. They knew of the Kingdom Gospel, but they did NOT know of the Gospel of Grace and its impact until after it was too late.
Thoughts?
MM
MM,
I think you described the different emphases of Jesus and Paul quite well, leaving me only to point out places in Scripture where the mystery of God's inclusion of the Gentiles in His plan of salvation for the Jews is indicated or foreshadowed:
GN 12:3b. All people on earth will be blessed through Abraham.
GN 15:6. Abraham’s faith in the Lord was credited to him as righteousness. This is why Paul teaches that a true Jew is one whose “circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code” (RM 2:29, 4:3,9-12&16-17). Thus, all who accept Christ are spiritual Jews and God’s chosen people (EPH 2:13-3:6).
GN 22:8. God Himself will provide the lamb for the offering. These words of Abraham to Isaac may be viewed as the first prophetic reference to Jesus (JN 1:29). Many years later Moses instituted the sacrificial system that also portrayed the future messianic atonement.
PS 2:1-2. “Why do the nations rage against the Lord’s Anointed One [Messiah] or Son [v.7]?” Although this question may have referred to King David, we can see that it is even more relevant today with reference to Jesus.
IS 42:1-9, Messiah will be “a light for the Gentiles” as well as for the Jews.
This teaching is expressed also in 45:22-23, “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth… Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.”
A third statement is found in 49:6, “…I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
And again in 60:3, “Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”
Finally, in 66:23, “All mankind will come and bow down before me, says the Lord.” Paul wrote about this “new thing” in EPH 2:11-3:13.
JR 4:4. “Circumcise your hearts”. This emphasis on the inner spiritual faith rather than on the outward physical circumstances is found in the writings of Paul, who even went so far as to say that spiritual faith is the essence of what it means to be Jewish or chosen by God. RM 2:28-29 says that “A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit…”
JR 31:31. Here we find mention of the coming new covenant (NT).
JL 2:28. “I will pour out my Spirit on all people… in those days.” And verse 32 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”, which Paul quotes (in RM 10:13).
ZCH 2:11. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become [His] people.” This refers to the latter days between the first or second coming of Christ, when the mystery revealed by Paul occurs: Gentiles as well as Jews who have saving faith like Abraham will become God’s chosen people.
