The Bible mentions two types of “gospel”—the true Gospel and false gospels (Galatians 1:1-11; 2 Corinthians 11:4). To identify the true Gospel, we don’t have to study all of the world’s false gospels—the counterfeits and frauds. We just need to know the true Gospel.
This is like a river pilot’s work, guiding a cargo ship up a large river. One pilot was training his worried apprentice who asked, “There are so many sand bars and mud banks, and they shift. How will I ever learn how to navigate this river safely?” The experienced pilot replied, “You don’t need to know all the obstacles. Just get to know the main channel and follow it.” When we know the true Gospel well, we recognize anything different as false.