A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

IV. The Core of the Kerygma (The Apostolic Preaching of Jesus as Messiah)

Bishop Stephen Neill, as updated by Dr. N. T. Wright, in the Interpretation of the New Testament 1861-1986 , brought together its unity and diversity: “The event of Jesus Christ is far too great to be caught and held in one interpretation and one only.” So the church gathered together in the New Testament canon “many different streams of tradition and interpretation . . . The startling thing about all these traditions is their unity; they all relate to one event, which must have been staggeringly great, and to one Person, who must have been unlike any other person who has ever lived.” And again: “It is the view of many competent scholars today that the New Testament bear witness with singular unanimity to one single historical figure, unlike any other that has ever walked among the sons of men . . .”(.) The principle of unity is there, in the towering originality and spiritual force of Jesus of Nazareth.”

~ John Stott. The Incomparable Christ . Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2001. p. 76.

A. The meaning of the Kerygma

1. Kerygma is a Greek term meaning “proclamation.”

2. It may refer to the content of the Gospel , to the message of the sermon , or to the preaching itself .

3. The verb form, kerysso , (“to preach,” “to proclaim,”) is applied to Jesus’ message of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1.14-15).

4. Today, NT scholars use the term to describe the content of the early Christian message .

5. What actually was being propagated (proclaimed, delivered) by the apostles as they traveled sharing the Good News of Jesus of Nazareth?