Once upon a time George Zeller and I had a nice conversation about the gospel. He didn’t quite agree with my view of it, and when I pointed out that his own article “Portraits of Christ (The Four Gospels)” affirmed exactly what I was saying, he went ahead and just changed the article on his church website to support his new view! I told him that I’m glad the gospel in the Bible doesn’t change!
Here is Zeller’s original statement on the gospel:
Zeller’s Original Gospel:
“The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’ or ‘glad tidings.’ What is the good news according to I Corinthians 15:1-5:
HE _____ FOR OUR ____ according to the Scriptures (verse 3 ).
HE WAS ________ (verse 4).
HE _______ AGAIN according to the Scriptures (verse 4).
HE WAS ________ (verse 5) by many different people.
Do all four Gospels present the GOOD NEWS that Christ died, was buried, rose again and was seen alive? ______”[1]
Here is Zeller’s updated statement on the gospel:
Zeller’s Updated Gospel:
“The word ‘gospel’ means ‘good news’ or ‘glad tidings.’ What is the good news according to 1 Corinthians 15:1-5:
Gospel Pillar #1: HE ____________ FOR OUR _________ according to the Scriptures (verse 3).
Gospel Pillar #1: HE ____________ FOR OUR _________ according to the Scriptures (verse 3).
The Proof: HE WAS B_____________ (verse 4). (People are not usually buried unless they are dead!)
Gospel Pillar #2: HE _____________ AGAIN according to the Scriptures (verse 4).
The Proof: HE WAS S___________ (verses 5 and following) by many different eyewitnesses.
Do all four Gospels present the GOOD NEWS that Christ died, and although He was buried, He rose again and was seen alive by various witnesses? ________ ”[2]
So notice that Zeller’s original statement outlined the gospel in four parallel points, we could say four pillars. But Zeller’s new presentation of the gospel contains only two pillars, along with two proofs. It makes me wonder though, which is stronger: a gospel with four pillars, or a gospel with just two? If you sat on a chair with only two legs, that wouldn’t be very sturdy, would it? I doubt Zeller would want to sit on a chair with only two legs! Or if the roof of Zeller’s house was supported by four pillars, and I said to him, “Well, let’s take two of those pillars out because you don’t really need all four.” What do you think Zeller would say? What would you say? Personally, I’d rather have a roof supported by four pillars than just two. It’s unfortunate that Zeller felt it necessary to change his statement on the gospel when there was nothing wrong with it in the first place! I actually liked the simple and straightforward clarity of Zeller’s original statement. But this is important to notice: both statements still affirm that the gospel includes Christ’s burial and appearances (see 1 Cor. 15:1-5). Zeller may feel that those two facts are not really part of the gospel, but a “proof” and a “part” are not mutually exclusive.[3] Label them pillars or proofs; it is nonetheless true: they are still divinely included as part of the gospel! Indeed, Warren Wiersbe affirms: “The burial of Jesus Christ is as much a part of the gospel as is His death (1 Cor. 15:1-5), for the burial is proof that He actually died.”[4]
References:
[1] George Zeller, “New Testament Books.” Chapter 2: Portraits of Christ (The Four Gospels), Middletown Bible Church, https://web.archive.org/web/20060713223747/http://www.middletownbiblechurch.org/newtesta/ntesta2.htm (accessed July 9, 2023).
[2] George Zeller, “New Testament Books.” Chapter 2: Portraits of Christ (The Four Gospels), Middletown Bible Church, www.middletownbiblechurch.org/newtesta/ntesta2.htm (accessed July 9, 2023).
[3] For more information see my blog post titled: “Christ’s Burial in the Gospel: It’s More Powerful Than You Might Think!”
[4] Warren Wiersbe, Be Comforted (Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2009), p. 162.
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