When it comes to theological triage, Paul calls the Gospel (the story of Jesus and its climactic moments) of first importance:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”
I strongly suspect that Paul here defines what he means by “raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” as he has done something similar with the cross in the beginning of the letter.
The letter then is shaped by the Gospel’s form—what is of first importance.
This relativizes all the rest to second or lesser importance. And I think an argument could be made from the letter of 1 Corinthians that the Gospel narrative.
I should probably note that Paul’s Gospel in 1 Corinthians follows the form of narration but the stuff of the Gospel story includes God, the Son, and the Spirit united Christ to his body, the church.
This incidentally explains why the earliest confessions had a triune shape since the Trinity is the Gospel when observed narratively.
True, Wyatt — well put. As you and I have agreed in the past, Jesus exegeted the Father (John 1:18) which only God can do; the Spirit, who searches out all things, even the depths of God (1 Cor. 2:14), which of course only God can do, humbly continues to play His part.
“I should probably note that Paul’s Gospel in 1 Corinthians follows the form of narration but the stuff of the Gospel story includes God, the Son, and the Spirit united Christ to his body, the church.”
I can see the Son’s position as that of the pivotal point of the meeting among the Godhead such that it culminates the inclusion of the Church He created. Naturally, not all people embraced those values, but some, ‘precious few’ have…
Matthew 22:14:
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Luke 13:24:
“Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”…and so on.
Thus not all will constitute the Church/Body of Christ no matter what they performed while on earth. And just because the Spirit was with Jesus before during and after gestation, doesn’t mean that baptism will encourage the Spirit to land on us, as it did Him which, I am convinced, was a ‘show’ for our sakes. Thus, however, Jesus was pivotal for our sakes, or else how would we have ever really comprehended? (cf, 1 Corinthians 2:14).
For example, 1 Peter 2…
“They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.”
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” No doubt the process of sanctification produces likemindedness such that in Christ Love is produced, without which we cannot fulfill the Law of God and the prophets. Thus it’s actually a sin to resist the Spirit.
So, obviously the world, in general, has not come close to even approaching this narrow gate. However, God will take those whom He knows…