Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note.

What exactly is “the Gospel”?

Christians use that word constantly, and Galatians 1 is often quoted to accuse Catholics of preaching “another gospel.” But before making that accusation, there’s a more basic question we need to answer: What Gospel did Paul actually preach?

In Episode 3 of Pipes with Pappy, I go back to Scripture, especially Mark 1, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 15, and Galatians 1, and then follow the Christian proclamation through the early Church and into the centuries before the Reformation.

We’ll also examine an important distinction: Is the Gospel itself “justification by faith alone,” or is justification a question about how we receive and participate in the saving work proclaimed by the Gospel?

This isn’t an episode about settling every Catholic-Protestant disagreement. It’s intentionally narrower than that.

One question:

What is the Gospel?

Jesus Christ is Lord. He died for our sins. He was buried. He rose from the dead. He reigns. He will come again.

If Catholics and Protestants agree on that proclamation, then perhaps our real disagreements are somewhere else, and those are the disagreements we should actually be discussing.

Steelman the position first. Then tear it apart if you can. At least then we’re actually talking to each other.

Seek deeply. Pray daily. Speak clearly. Share regularly. Serve humbly.

Veritas.