Studies in Earliest Christianity

When we examine conduct appropriate to the gospel Paul preached at first, even his advanced law-free gospel, we find a quite different state of affairs. We find even a different view of God, as we have just noted, more like the Old Testament “Jehovah is a Man of War.” Violence in which vengeance clothed itself, and condemnation for those “who did not believe the truth” with consequent “punishment of eternal destruction” (2 Thess). Throughout, the gospel of the imminent kingdom seems harsh and uncaring, unfeeling and heedless of the personal conduct of men and women. There is nothing positive in it except the hope of sharing in material prosperity here below. Most people everywhere hope for a more prosperous future, so responding positively to the kingdom gospel did not radically change people’s hopes, nor did it change the way they conducted their lives. This is in striking contrast with the Cross Gospel; it changes even the basis on which one’s character, hopes and conduct are formed.