The Origin of the Gospel: God’s Promise to Abraham

Many Christians operate under the assumption that the gospel originates solely with Jesus, often speaking of "the gospel of Jesus" as if it began in the New Testament. However, Scripture reveals a deeper continuity. Jesus himself proclaimed "the gospel of God" (Mark 1:14), a sentiment echoed by Paul, who defined his apostleship as being set apart for this same "gospel of God" (Romans 1:1). Paul explains that this good news was promised beforehand through the prophets, tracing its roots back to God’s call of Abraham in Genesis 12.

Therefore, faith does not begin with Jesus or Paul, but with Abraham. At the foundation of the economy of salvation lies the grace of God. God called Abraham—a "nobody" who did not earn his status—out of obscurity. Abraham’s role was simply to trust, acknowledging and accepting God's blessing through a lifelong commitment of faith. Jesus demonstrated this same faithfulness as the Son of God, revealing God's righteousness to the world (Romans 3:22) and fulfilling the Law and the Prophets rather than destroying them (Matt. 5:17).

Ultimately, the good news belongs to God. It is a single story of history that began with Abraham and finds its fulfillment in Christ (cf. Galatians 3). We must not overlook this vital continuity: the gospel is fundamentally the good news of God. In Galatians, Paul affirms that the root of the gospel lies in God's promise (Gal. 3:1–29).

For more about the theme of the "gospel" (euangelion) in Galatians, see Rereading Galatians from the Perspective of Paul's Gospel.

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