What is Paul’s Gospel? (Paul’s Apocalyptic Gospel)

The answer to the question of “what is Paul’s gospel?” must have some continuity with Jesus’ proclamation of the gospel. Although some will claim that there is not much, if any, continuity between Paul and Jesus and their messages I believe that there is. The continuity between their message is found at the very beginning of Galatians. In verses 3-4 Paul explains the work of Christ. Paul says that Christ gave himself for our sins to set us free from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. The phrase “evil age” is a distinctly apocalyptic expression.[1] In speaking of an evil age, Paul implies that there is another age to come. Paul says that it is Jesus Christ who’s death for our sins sets us free from this evil age. Martyn notes that verse four which indicates that Jesus has “snatched us out of the grasp” of this age, is related to the notion of “buying out of enslavement to.” [2] So the question is, “is the fact that we are snatched out of the grasp of this evil age the gospel or is it simply something else that is also accomplished by Christ?”

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[1] J. Louis Martyn, The Anchor Bible: Galatians, (New York: Doubleday, 1997), 97.

[2] Martyn, The Anchor Bible: Galatians, 96.