Pattern The Gospel’s important teachings form a distinctive “pattern” or “standard.” These English words translate New Testament Greek terms like tupos and hupotuposis, meaning an example, a pattern to be copied as a model. One blueprint of a house always produces the same kind of house. One pattern for making a dress always produces the same kind of dress. Similarly, Paul could speak about the consistent way with which all obeyed the Gospel.
But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard [Greek: tupos] of teaching to which you were committed (Romans 6:17 cf. Romans 6:3-4).
Follow the pattern [Greek: hupotuposis] of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13).
Even the pattern’s words are “sound” or healthy. Why? Because they come from Jesus and are infallibly inspired by the Holy Spirit.
For I would have you know, brothers, that the Gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:11-12).
We impart this [message] in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:13).
To change those words, or to change that pattern, is to produce a counterfeit gospel that is severely condemned.
I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the Gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6-9).
Features In Galatians, the false gospel that Paul condemned was about response to the Gospel. The Judaizers were not satisfied with the response called for by the Gospel. They wanted to add “circumcision” as an extra condition (Acts 15:1; Galatians 5:2-3). Today, too, there are challenges to the Gospel, especially in how to respond. Some add conditions not found in the New Testament. Others take away conditions that the Scriptures clearly require, especially in matters of repentance and baptism. In the true Gospel, biblical repentance and biblical baptism are always present among the Gospel’s distinctive features.