How could the disciples have preached the gospel during Jesus’ ministry when they didn’t know He would die and rise?
They could not have preached the gospel as it is known after the cross, because Peter, John, and the others did not understand that Jesus must die and rise again. The Old Testament prophecies were veiled, so even the prophets could not comprehend them. The death, burial, and resurrection gospel could not have been preached during His earthly ministry.
Les explains that if the disciples had no idea Jesus was going to be crucified and raised, there was no way they could have been preaching our Gospel during His earthly ministry. He notes that many have claimed the Gospel as we know it began as soon as Jesus came on the scene, but that is impossible because no one understood He was going to die. The prophets had written it, and the Old Testament was full of His death, burial, and resurrection—some count about 360 distinct prophecies of His first coming—but it was in veiled language, and even the prophets could not understand it. Peter and John, the closest to Him, had no idea He would die, and after He died they had no idea He would be resurrected; they simply could not comprehend it. Les then directs attention to 1 Corinthians chapter 2.