Introduction

Where Paul summarizes or otherwise identifies the content of his preaching it is almost always with reference to Jesus.

Rom 15:19—From Jerusalem and as far around as Illyricum I have fully proclaimed the good news of Christ.

1 Cor 2:2—For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

1 Cor 15:12—Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead …

2 Cor 1:19—For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you …

2 Cor 4:5—We proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord …

2 Cor 11:4—For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed …

Gal 1:15–16—God … was pleased to reveal his Son to me so that I might proclaim him among the Gentiles.

Gal 3:1b—It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified!

Phil 1:18—Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true; and in that I rejoice.

When these and other representative statements are taken into account, it becomes apparent that the apostle proclaims Jesus both as the crucified Messiah (see especially, 1 Cor 1:18–2:5) and as the risen and living Lord (Rom 6:9; 1 Cor 6:14; 15:12). For him, as in the creedal statements he sometimes employs (1 Cor 15:3–5; 1 Thess 4:14), Jesus' death and resurrection belong inseparably together. And in addition, he is confident that Jesus will soon return, that “the day of the Lord” is not far off (Rom 13:ll–12a; 1 Thess 1:9–10; 5:2).