The word of the Lord, came to me saying...

I just completed reading your summary of Walter Brueggermann's book: "The Prophetic Imagination" provided in your magazine “Therefore” (Vol 12, Num 2). What a lovely gift. Thank you for doing this for us, and making it freely accessible.

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Please God help us who are now holders of
the Word of God that is right now "at hand",
to hold it out like you, with shoulders of
connection, a right arm with understand-

ing (that can look and listen deeply to
you in your council as you plan to bring
the power of your "khesed", to bring unto
this broken world, the will & power to sing).

That as, like prophets in the world long past,
we let this Word of God come in, not mope,
then hold it out in a dark world like stars
to shine and bring a faithful, moving hope.

We see that now the least in God’s New Rule
are all, as prophets were to folk back then.

The euangelion that is our jewel,

speaks God’s word of the Word of God, so when

we hold it out, and bear witness to truth’s

clear presence and it’s heart, as did his face,

we need your help to critique (not to lose

our independence, from imagine-ace-

-shun, given us by Yahweh Elohim’s

quite alter-native way of doing life.

And energized by what comes down from him

so that Creator’s ways and means are rife!

And learning to let go of old wine skins,

in mourning their old plans, devices too,

we want to open up to what begins,

and all your new creation that ensues!

The Gospel of God...

In my present understanding, there are two parts to it (well three).

1)  a bald statement of news [Announcement]
2)  appropriate responses to that news outlined [Encouragement/Command]
      Metanoia & pistis fall into this 2nd category.
There is a 3rd category; which is  
3) an interpretation of the 1st part (ie. The announcement). Many of Yeshua's parables and some of his actions fall into this category.  [(re)Imagining]

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What did the hearers of the gospel hear, 

when they first heard it from God’s herald who

was God’s anointed leader who appeared

and said he came to Earth this job to do*.

It’s almost like the most important thing

a leader sent from God could do was tell

the message that God sent him here to bring,

and lead the people to hear it right well.

But part of human list’ning is to hear

and understand, and also live in line

with any truth communicated near

that might call for responses in good time.

And in this case, he told them what to do

right after he had given them the news.

Both metanoia and pistis were two

commands he gave them, and he gave  reviews.

This news is so amazing that you must

not live your life the same as you have done,

but change your hearts and minds, begin to trust

this (well supported) news, for it’s begun!

In case misunderstanding of the news

occurs, there is another job to do:

interpret it’s key aspects, and refuse

to let them just back-up the current view.

God’s premise-s are often not like ours,

on different principles he runs his show

so when we look, and think of taking bows,

their meaning and their motives are “the go”.

The message means... & motives lurking

for saying it, might have to be explained.

Imagining the outcomes and workings

(for those who were kings prior to this exchange),

might all be part of finishing the job.

It seems that many parables in word
& deed, bear witness to this truth (of God),

and might help to recall what people heard;

..to think about it, panning out more gold

(excited as they found each tiny bit).

The Herald’s clear announcement, they were "told".

For us here later, “What-cha think was it”?

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* After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, heralding the good news of God. ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!’ ….

Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.’  So he travelled throughout Galilee, heralding in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:14‭-‬15‭, ‬38‭-‬39  https://bible.com/bible/113/mrk.1.14-39.

What Gospel?

Read Isaiah 40:1-55:13 together sometime.. Good news to the hearers of the prophecy/message in Isaiah 52:7. From reading this, it seems that that bit could have been written in the time of exile to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem. The people would  (if it were me) have taken heart at the sound of a "Lord Redeemer."... Good news to the hearers of Jesus' words in Mark 1:14 and 15. Jewish people who were in their country again, and yet not free to rule themselves entirely. Imagine the experience of leasing their own land, or paying taxes to Rome for the privilege of being allowed to live in this part of Roman territory.  How might they have felt? Still, there would be a desire to have God's kingdom there with them, and some might have welcomed Jesus' proclamation of "turn away from your sins, and believe what I am saying!" It might have sounded a bit similar to the sorts of things that prophets used to say, and a possible similarity to what the Lord himself said in 2 Chronicles 7:14  "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." From what I gather, the Israelites may have believed that theirs was the Kingdom of God, God having chosen them to make his temple, and to lead them out of their current living situation, and into a land which he called them to, a land flowing with milk and honey. Since he was their God, and they were His people.

Commit everything you do to The Lord, Trust Him, and He shall bring to pass. Psalm 37:5 (PM Version)

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Yes... Most of this is true... according to

my understanding of it's use back then...

but still it seems to me we've missed a few

important things they would have "seen"  clear when

at first these "readers" saw (more, "hearers", heard)

the "euangelion", the message, which

was heralded to them by spoken word,

and some responses clearly encouraged!

Responses like that "metanoia" and

then "pistis" which Josephus called for from

that rebel soldier he called on to stand

with him, with new allegiances to come...

thus holding a new view of how this world

would work, and who is shepherd, of what sheep,

and holding faithfull to that, not to shirk,

and keeping wakefull (not to fall asleep).

But still the question's begged: "What did they hear

when first they heard this message right to them?"

The "euangelion" of Christ appeared,

and what was understood by those who ken?

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Isa 52:7 (LXX)  - ὡς ὥρα ἐπὶ τῶν ὀρέων ὡς πόδες εὐαγγελιζομένου ἀκοὴν εἰρήνης ὡς εὐαγγελιζόμενος ἀγαθά ὅτι ἀκουστὴν ποιήσω τὴν σωτηρίαν σου λέγων Σιων βασιλεύσει σου ὁ θεός

Mark 1:14-15 - μετὰ δὲ τὸ παραδοθῆναι τὸν Ἰωάννην ἦλθεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἰς τὴν Γαλιλαίαν κηρύσσων τὸ εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ λέγων ὅτι πεπλήρωται ὁ καιρὸς καὶ ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ μετανοεῖτε καὶ πιστεύετε ἐν τῷ εὐαγγελίῳ

Yup, they talk of blessed messengers who announce the euangelion (εὐαγγελόν - the Gospel, the Good News).

The first two verses speak of this "Good News". The question is what did they think this euangelion that was announced was (was it that Christmas prices in this state have been reduced by their previously added GST?)

It may need further explaining later, but let's get the announcement right.

I feel like the last three verses are explaining some of the many ramifications of the announcement...

Check what is meant by a "gloss". Make up your own gloss to use for the Greek word euangelion, instead of the English words  currently adopted by our Christian subculture: "Gospel", or "Good News". Try for a word of phrase that is likely to fit with the assumptions and experience of First Century hearers or readers of the above words from Isaiah and Mark (& a passage like 1Thess 2:1-16).