It is true thatΒ nowΒ there is but one gospel and Godβs curse is pronounced upon any who would presume to proclaim any other (Gal.1:8,9), but those who suppose that Paul proclaimed the same good news which the twelve before him had proclaimed, should carefully read Galatians 2:1-9.
The twelve had been proclaiming our Lordβs kingdom rights in βthe gospel of the kingdomβ. With the kingdom having been rejected, however, God raised up Paul to proclaimΒ βthe Gospel of the Grace of GodβΒ (ActsΒ 20:24). In GalatiansΒ 1:11,12, this apostle declares:
βBut I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man, for I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.β
This is only one of many passages in which he declares that he was commissioned to proclaim a special message by the glorified Lord Himself (Eph.3:1-4; Rom. 16:25; etc.).
Now in Galatians 2:2, the apostle states: βI went upΒ by revelationΒ [God sent him] and communicated unto them [the apostles and elders at Jerusalem] that gospel which I preach among the Gentilesβ¦.β But was he not merely checking to make sure that he and they were preaching the same good news? No, for he goes on to say: βBut [I went] privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vainβ.
Verses 7 and 9 then go on to tell how βthey sawβ and βperceivedβ the grace that had been given to Paul, so that they publicly and officially gave him βthe right hands of fellowshipβ, acknowledging him as the apostle of grace, sent to the world with a message of grace:
βBeing justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesusβ (Rom. 3:24). source
[β¦] To St. Paul, the chief of sinners, saved by grace, God revealed the greatest riches of all. Paul said: βUnto me, who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I should preach among the nations the unsearchable riches of Christβ (Eph. 3:8). These riches include, among other things, βall the riches of the full assurance of understandingβ (Col. 2:2). How wonderful to have an intelligent understanding of Godβs plan of salvation and of all He has purposed in His heart of love for those who accept the salvation He has provided through Hisβ¦Β Read more Β»
[β¦] Is that how fast youβll hold to Pauline truth if you lose everythingΒ you hold dear? You donβt have to hold yourΒ truth fast to be savedβbut you should hold it fastΒ as if you did,Β as if your very eternal life depended on it. After all, the eternal life ofΒ your hearersΒ will depend on how tight a grasp you maintain on the truth of Paulβs gospel. [β¦]