Paul's Gospel according to 1 Corinthians 15 is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
In 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Paul declares the gospel he preached, which the Corinthians received and in which they stand. He then defines it clearly: Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day, all according to the Scriptures. Les Feldick points to these four verses as the clearest definition of the gospel of salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 — Paul directly states the gospel he preached, the message by which the Corinthians are saved, and defines it as Christ's death, burial, and resurrection according to the Scriptures.
Scripture says: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV). Paul also writes, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV). And in 1 Corinthians 4:15 he says, "For in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (KJV).
Les Feldick teaches that 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the most complete, clear, and simple presentation of the gospel in the Bible. He emphasizes that Paul writes "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—because there is only one gospel. Whenever Paul refers to the gospel in any of his epistles, he is referring to this same 1 Corinthians 15 message. Les also explains that Paul calls this gospel by several names—"my Gospel," "the Gospel of the grace of God," "the Gospel of Christ," and "the Gospel of God"—but it is always the same message: Christ died, was buried, and rose again. He stresses that a person must understand and know what they believe, because believing in vain is a real danger. He even says 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 beats John 3:16 100 miles as the place where the gospel is laid out in full.
The Gospel Paul preached is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). This comes immediately after Paul says he is declaring the gospel he preached, which the Corinthians received, and by which they are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
Les says there is no clearer place in the whole Bible where the gospel is laid out in full. He even says it beats John 3:16 100 miles, while adding he has nothing against John 3:16. He calls these verses the clearest definition of the gospel of salvation that can be found between the covers of the Bible.
Scripture says it is by this gospel that believers are saved, if they keep in memory what Paul preached—otherwise they have believed in vain (1 Corinthians 15:2). Les reinforces that this is the gospel to believe for eternal life and entrance into God's heaven, and that one must understand and know what they believe.
Les teaches that Paul writes "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—meaning it is one and only. He says this is all Paul knows throughout his epistles, whether Paul calls it "my Gospel," "the Gospel of the grace of God," "the Gospel of Christ," or "the Gospel of God." Every time Paul refers to the gospel in his epistles, it is this same 1 Corinthians 15 message.
What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse
Hello and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
The Gospel Defined in 1 Corinthians 15
Les identifies 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 as the Scripture portion that lays out the Gospel completely, clearly, and simply, and says that when Paul says "the Gospel," this is what he means.
The Gospel is Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les states the Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and arose again the third day according to the Scriptures—the only message Paul knows in all his epistles.
The One and Only Gospel
Les stresses "the gospel"—not "a gospel"—showing it is one and only, and that salvation is through this gospel for the Gentile congregation at Corinth.
The Gospel to Believe for Eternal Life
Les teaches that the gospel to believe for eternal life and entrance into God's heaven is 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, and that it is conditional on knowing what you believe.
Only One Plan of Salvation Today
Les says there is only one plan of salvation in the Bible for today—by believing the gospel—and that believers stand positionally in this gospel, but must know what they believe.
The Clearest Gospel Passage
Les says 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is the clearest place in the whole Bible where the gospel is laid out in full, and that it beats John 3:16 100 miles.
The Gospel Through Which Paul Begat Believers
Les uses 1 Corinthians 4:15 to show that Paul begat believers through the gospel, and he again presents 1 Corinthians 15:1 as the clearest definition of the gospel of salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:1: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
Paul identifies the gospel he proclaimed as the message the Corinthians received and in which they stand.
1 Corinthians 15:2: By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
This verse states that it is by this same gospel that believers are saved, with the condition that they keep in memory what Paul preached.
1 Corinthians 15:3: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
Paul delivers what he also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:4: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul completes the gospel definition with Christ's burial and resurrection on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 1:18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Paul contrasts the response to the gospel: it is foolishness to the perishing but God's power to those being saved.
1 Corinthians 4:15: For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
Paul reminds the Corinthians that through the gospel he became their spiritual father in Christ Jesus.
Paul's gospel is the message that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. This is the gospel Paul preached, which the Corinthians received, and by which they are saved (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
Les said 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 beats John 3:16 100 miles as a clear presentation of the gospel, while adding that he has nothing against John 3:16.
Les notes that Paul calls it "my Gospel," "the Gospel of the grace of God," "the Gospel of Christ," and "the Gospel of God," but it is always the same 1 Corinthians 15 message.
Watch the Teaching: What Is Paul's Gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Explained Verse by Verse