One Gospel for Jew and Gentile: Debunking the Two-Gospel Theory

One Gospel for Jew and Gentile

A Biblical Response to the Two‑Gospel Theory

Understanding the Two‑Gospel Theory

Sometimes called Hyper‑Dispensationalism or Mid‑Acts Dispensationalism, this view asserts that God offered:

• “Gospel of the Kingdom” — preached by Jesus and the Twelve to Israel, demanding repentance, baptism, and obedience to usher in an earthly kingdom.
• “Gospel of Grace” — revealed uniquely to Paul for the Gentile Church, centered on faith apart from works.

Favorite Proof Texts Used

Advocates frequently quote:

• Galatians 2:7 — “gospel to the uncircumcised… circumcised.”
• Matthew 10:5‑7 — Jesus forbidding ministry to Gentiles.
• Acts 2:38 — Peter’s call to repent and be baptized.
• Romans 11:13 & 1 Corinthians 1:17 — Paul’s unique Gentile apostleship and minimization of water baptism.

Claim: These verses prove two distinct programs—one earthly, Jewish, and law‑related; the other heavenly, Gentile, and grace‑based.

1. One Gospel from Eternity Past

Scripture reveals that God’s redemptive plan was eternal, not experimental. The same promise announced to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) finds its climax in Christ.

“He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…”Ephesians 1:4

“…the gospel was preached beforehand to Abraham…”Galatians 3:8

“This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”2 Timothy 1:9

Exposition: Paul says Abraham himself received the gospel; therefore, grace through faith predates both Moses and Pentecost. God’s promise does not shift gears between Peter and Paul.

How Two‑Gospel Advocates Use These Verses: They often sidestep them or redefine “gospel” (euangelion) in Galatians 3:8 as merely “good news about land and prosperity,” but the text anchors it in justification (Gal 3:6‑9).

2. Peter and Paul: Same Gospel, Different Stewardships

The word translated “to” in Galatians 2:7 (Greek: eis) signals sphere of audience, not content variance.

“I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised.”Galatians 2:7

Exposition: The parallelism (“just as”) stresses sameness. If two gospels existed, Paul’s anathema in Galatians 1:8‑9 would condemn Peter!

Two‑Gospel Usage: Proponents isolate the verse, ignoring verses 9‑10 where the apostles exchange the “right hand of fellowship,” signaling doctrinal unity.

“Peter… affirmed our beloved brother Paul… as they do the other Scriptures.”2 Peter 3:15‑16

Peter labels Paul’s letters “Scripture,” hardly heresy.

3. One People, One Covenant Promise

“If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”Galatians 3:29

Exposition: Faith, not ethnicity, defines membership in God’s family. The “middle wall of partition” is demolished (Ephesians 2:14‑16).

Two‑Gospel Usage: They claim “Body of Christ” is strictly Pauline, while Peter’s audience remains a separate, earthly people. Yet Peter applies Exodus 19:6 titles (“royal priesthood… holy nation”) to Gentile‑inclusive churches (1 Peter 2:9‑10).

4. Faith Alone: The Heart of the Gospel

“We hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”Romans 3:28

“Abraham believed God, and it was counted… as righteousness.”Genesis 15:6

“The righteous shall live by faith.”Habakkuk 2:4 / Romans 1:17

Exposition: Justification by faith precedes Sinai (Abraham) and threads through the Prophets (Habakkuk) into the New Testament (Romans 3‑5).

Two‑Gospel Usage: They insist Peter preached works + baptism (Acts 2:38) for forgiveness. Yet even Peter later says cleansing comes through believing hearts (Acts 15:9‑11) and shows that baptism symbolizes an appeal to God for a good conscience (1 Peter 3:21)—not meritorious work.

Conclusion: One Gospel, One Savior, One Church

Across redemptive history God proclaims a single, grace‑centered message. The Two‑Gospel theory misreads transitional passages and overlooks the overarching covenant promise fulfilled in Christ. Let us therefore:

• Read Scripture in its full context.
• Uphold salvation by grace through faith from Genesis to Revelation.
• Celebrate the unity of Jew and Gentile in one body—anchored in the finished work of Jesus.

“There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5) — and only one Gospel that saves.