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It has become somewhat fashionable in some circles to preach that the Gospels, parts of Acts, and sometimes even Hebrews and James, are a message for the Jews, while the Epistles of Paul are the gospel for the Gentiles. This makes it possible for this belief’s adherents to discount the hard commands and warnings found in these sections of the Scripture. Is this Biblical?

To analyze this belief, perhaps we should look first at the writings of Paul, whose authority is accepted by many dispensationalists to the exclusion of some of the other New Testament books. In Acts 20:35, we find a statement from Paul: “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” This verse is significant because it shows that Paul himself accepted the authority of Jesus to make this pronouncement for the age in which Paul was living.

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul also uses Christ’s authority—based on a command given by Christ before the crucifixion—to establish and explain communion to the Corinthians. If Paul’s gospel excluded the commands of Jesus, how could he openly refer to these commands as authoritative for the church?

Another important verse, written by Paul, that pertains to this issue is Galatians 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Here Paul makes no distinction about who the “other gospel” is being preached to. Rather, he firmly shows that there is only one gospel.

Some think that the different terms used in the Scripture for the gospel, such as “the gospel of the kingdom,” or Paul’s term “my gospel,” refer to different gospels. However, Paul also refers to “my gospel” as “the gospel of Christ” (1 Thessalonians 3:2) and “the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (see 2 Thessalonians 1:8), similarly to how Mark identifies his book of Jesus’ teachings (which some would count to teach a different gospel): “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

Outside of Paul’s writings, there is even more evidence that Paul was not teaching his own, separate gospel. For example, see Jesus’ words in Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Here Jesus views His gospel as being preached to all nations, not simply to the Jews.

In the Great Commission, we have another evidence that Jesus expected His gospel to be preached to all the nations. First, He said, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). Had He meant to limit it to the Jews, He could have easily said, “Go ye into all the world, and preach this gospel to every Jew, and another gospel to the Gentiles.” He didn’t say that because He meant for the gospel to be preached to “every creature.” But He made it even clearer by specifying that everyone was to be taught to obey His commands: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20)

In Revelation 14, the gospel is both identified as everlasting and as preached to every nation: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Revelation 14:6-7) How can this be possible if more than one gospel exists?

These verses, and others, seem to indicate that the idea of several gospels is not Scriptural. It is important for us to search the Scriptures to make sure that the things that we believe are actually true. If they are not, we need to be willing to give them up and embrace the true doctrines of the Bible.