"I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the GRACE of Christ, to a different evangel...but if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven, should be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring to you, let him be anathema!" (Galatians 1:4-8)
I think George Bernhard Shaw was correct. But I would put it this way...
"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what their Theologians tell them it says."
The Bible has been translated into hundreds of different versions. As the result, the Bible we possess has become an abstract of the various opinions of Theologians. The original Scripture was infallible, but the versions created by men are not. They are filled with the biases of the translators.
The first English version of Scripture came around 1380 A.D. by John Wycliffe, more than a thousand years after the Scriptures were canonized. His and all others are biased toward the traditions of the Theologians of Catholicism. We should remind ourselves what Jesus pointed out to the Theologians of His day...
"Then, coming to Jesus from Jerusalem are Pharisees and scribes, saying, "Wherefore are your disciples transgressing the tradition of the elders? For they are not washing their hands whenever they may be eating bread. Now He, answering, said to them, "Wherefore are you also transgressing the precept of God because of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:1-3)
To elevate a tradition to the inspired and inerrant word of God is not good according to Jesus...
"You invalidate the word of God because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Ideally Isaiah prophesies concerning you, saying, "This people with their lips is honoring Me, Yet their heart is away a distance from Me. Yet in vain are they revering Me, teaching for teachings the directions of men.” (Matthew 15:6-9)
It is hard work to determine which of the many versions of the Bible come closest to the actual words of God because there are no original manuscripts in existence. The Concordant Version of the New Testament has become my go to version because the way it was translated removed the personal bias of the translator.
The good news ("evangel") came to the Apostle Paul "by direct revelation of Jesus Christ".
"For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:11-13)
"For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:11-13)
Below is the good news for humanity revealed to the Apostle Paul by Jesus.
1. GOD LOVES SINNERS AND CHRIST DIED FOR US...
“God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes.” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and He was entombed, and He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL HUMANITY BE SAVED...
“...our Savior, God, who wills that all humanity be saved and come into a realization of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“...we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL WILL BE RECONCILED TO GOD THOUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST...
“...while we were enemies we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10)
“...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“...through Him to reconcile ALL to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)
4. LIFE AFTER DEATH IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL HUMANITY...
“For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall ALL be vivified.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“...the gratuitous gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT WE ARE TO DO WITH THE GOOD NEWS...
"These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything be giving thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
1. GOD LOVES SINNERS AND CHRIST DIED FOR US...
“God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes.” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and He was entombed, and He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL HUMANITY BE SAVED...
“...our Savior, God, who wills that all humanity be saved and come into a realization of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“...we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL WILL BE RECONCILED TO GOD THOUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST...
“...while we were enemies we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10)
“...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“...through Him to reconcile ALL to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)
4. LIFE AFTER DEATH IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL HUMANITY...
“For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall ALL be vivified.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“...the gratuitous gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT WE ARE TO DO WITH THE GOOD NEWS...
"These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything be giving thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)