The ABCs of the Kerygma

By: TJ Gentry, PhD, DMin, PhD Candidate | February 9, 2022

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Question: “What is the basic content of the Kerygma?” –Anonymous.

Answer: In response to this question, it will help to consider what I will call the ABCs of the Kerygma.

A: Apostolic Preaching

Kerygma is the English transliteration of the Greek word κήρυγμά, which appears numerous times in the New Testament and is ordinarily translated as “preaching” or “proclamation.” For example, in 1 Corinthians 2:4, Paul describes his initial ministry among the Corinthians by saying, “my speech and my preaching (kerygma) were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”[1] Instances of the word also appear in Romans 16:25, 1 Corinthians 1:21 and 15:14, 2 Timothy 4:17, and Titus 1:3. Related words (i.e., from the same Greek root) are found in Luke 9:2’s description of Jesus’s commission of the disciples on an early preaching mission and Acts 8:5 concerning Philip’s preaching in Samaria. Collectively, these instances reveal that the kerygma is the apostolic preaching concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ.

B: Basic Elements

Paul details the basic element of the kerygma in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, where he addresses the matter of Christ’s resurrection and its centrality to the gospel. In 15:1-2, Paul states, “I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” Herein we see the first basic element in the kerygma: it is “the gospel…that word which [Paul] preached.” Paul goes on to summarize the content of his gospel, explaining in 15:3-4 “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” Here we find the second and third basic elements of the kerygma: it centers on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; and it derives from a proper understanding of the Old Testament’s message (i.e., twice Paul says his message was “according to the Scriptures”). Paul goes on to explain in 15:5-8 that there were multiple witnesses who “remain to the present” that could attest to the risen Jesus based on having seen Him alive after the crucifixion and before His ascension back to heaven. While this latter point, the witnesses, is not necessarily a basic element of the kerygma, it highlights that the resurrection which was central to the gospel was based on eye-witness evidence which corroborated the Scriptures that anticipated it would happen. (One might ask at this point if what Paul preached as the gospel is different from Peter and the other apostles and early church leaders? However, a consensus is established that each of the New Testament authors share a common commitment to the basic elements of the kerygma by comparing Paul’s message with Peter’s on Pentecost in Acts 2, the fundamental elements of the epistles of Hebrews and Jude, and John’s first epistle and what he wrote in Revelation. Points of emphasis based on context and audience may vary but the gist of their messages reflects a unity of essential content.)

C: Christological Focus

The final aspect of the kerygma for consideration is its Christological focus, which is to say that the gospel preached in the New Testament centered on the person and work of Jesus. As is sometimes said, Jesus is the hero of every passage in the Bible. While this may be something of an overstatement, it is certainly the case that the focus of the gospel was, is, and must be about Jesus. One need only consider how the epistles written by Paul and others all have a central theme with two basic components. The central theme is revealed as each epistles centers on what it means for the world and the church that Jesus took on flesh, lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, and rose on the third day. The two components of each epistle that demonstrate this central theme are the explanations of 1) what the gospel means, and 2) how the gospel applies. For example, in Romans 1-11, the meaning of the gospel is explained, and in Roman 12-16, the gospel is applied to practical consideration of Christian living. This pattern is also found in Ephesians and Galatians, as well as Hebrews.

To summarize, the ABCs of the kerygma reveal that it is: A) the apostolic preaching; B) of the basic content of the gospel message centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus; which C) focuses directly and by application on Christ.

About the Author

Dr. Thomas J. Gentry (aka., TJ Gentry) serves as the pastor of First Christian Church of West Frankfort, Illinois, the Executive VP of Bellator Christi Ministries, and the Executive Editor of MoralApologetics.com. Dr. Gentry is a world-class scholar holding 5 doctorate degrees and 6 masters degrees. Additionally, he is a prolific writer as he has published 7 books including Pulpit Apologist, Absent from the Body, Present with the Lord, and You Shall Be My Witnesses: Reflections on Sharing the Gospel. Be on the lookout for two additional books that he will soon publish. In addition to his impressive resume, Dr. Gentry proudly served his country as an officer in the United States Army and serves as a martial arts instructor.

[1] All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version.

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