Faith without religion.
The Expansion of the Gospel: From Jews to Gentiles
In the latest episode of “Dylan Dodd Talk Doctrine,” Dell and his father, Shawn, delve into the intricacies of the New Testament, focusing on the transition of the gospel from Jewish to Gentile audiences. Dell, who is reading the Bible for the first time, poses insightful questions about the purpose of the New Testament books beyond the Gospels. Shawn explains that while the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John were initially directed at Jews to affirm Jesus as the Messiah, the subsequent books, particularly those written by Paul, were aimed at spreading the gospel to Gentiles.
Shawn elaborates on how Acts chapter 10 marks a pivotal moment when Peter, guided by a vision, begins sharing the gospel with non-Jews, a significant shift from the previous decade when the message was exclusive to Jews. Paul, a former Pharisee, becomes a key figure in this outreach, writing letters to churches composed of both Jews and Gentiles, addressing the challenges of integrating these diverse groups.
The discussion also touches on the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the apostles to write the Gospels and the arduous process of disseminating these texts in a time when oral tradition was predominant. Shawn clarifies that while his interpretation of the New Testament might be considered heretical by some, the notion that Paul was an apostle to the Gentiles and that the Gospels serve as a bridge from the Old Testament is widely accepted.
As the episode concludes, Dell and Shawn prepare to dive deeper into the Book of Matthew, inviting listeners to continue exploring these theological themes with them.