Recovering the Real Lost Gospel: Reclaiming the Gospel as Good News

by Darrell L. Bock

While some seek so-called lost gospels, Darrell L. Bock suggests the real lost gospel is the one already found in the Bible and reminds everyone of what it good news.

Praise for Recovering the Real Lost Gospel

"Darrell Bock is one of the church's finest New Testament scholars. He has the unique ability to write on both the technical and popular level and presents a biblical theology of the gospel that is clear, robust, and holistic. This is a valuable contribution to helping us rightly understand the greatness of the gospel."

Daniel L. Akin , president, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

"You are holding in your hands a really rare book--one that goes all the way back to the New Testament in connecting the gospel and the cross with the life of discipleship and the mission of the church in a broken world that needs the message of grace. Darrell Bock is one of our best biblical theologians and is at his best in this new study."

Timothy George , dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

" Recovering the Real Lost Gospel is a welcomed corrective and timely guide for so many individuals and churches who seemingly have lost their way amidst the confusing spirituality and mixed religious messages of our day."

David S. Dockery , president, Union University

"Bock teaches us the essence of the best news ever told. The gospel is so much more than good advice . . . it is the message of life, hope, grace, and Jesus himself! Get ready to be reminded why it is the best news ever !"

Pete Briscoe , senior pastor, Bent Tree Bible Fellowship (Dallas, Texas)

"Too many Christians think of 'the Gospel' as merely the last page of an evangelistic tract. Bock demonstrates with clarity and vision that the gospel is better news than some have dared to hope. Read this book, and let its wisdom drive you to worship and to mission."

Russell D. Moore , dean, School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Genres: Theology, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Christianity, Christian

146 pages, Paperback

First published October 28, 2010

About the author

Darrell L. Bock is a New Testament scholar and research professor of New Testament studies at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas, United States. Bock received his PhD from Scotland's University of Aberdeen.

Reviews

[Gary L. Strike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had Darrell as a professor back in 1993 in Fort Collins, Colorado. The name of the course was simply "Dispensationalism." I am excited about this book because I trust that Darrell is going to "bring it all together" as far as the Old Testament leading up to the New, and then beyond.

[Chase Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, if I could, I would choose to give this book a 3.5 star rating. Of course, I agree with the object of his writing; that is, the gospel of Jesus Christ. However, the book and others like it do not end up fully defining the gospel. Instead it highlights an aspect or aspects of the gospel that the author feels has “fallen in hard times”. The issue with this of course is that they gospel remains unexplored to its full extent. In Bock’s case this quote shows what he is emphasizing, “To embrace the gospel is to embrace not only a rediscovered God of grace but also a new way of living and a new family.” Book emphasizes the role and coming of the Spirit in the believer and that believers subsequent place in the family of believers thereafter being saved. Overall it’s not a waste of time to read, just know what you are getting... this isn’t a “Recovering the Real Lost Gospel” in my opinion because it doesn’t fully describe the gospel. However, it is “Rediscovering Aspects of the Lost Gospel”.

[Joel Opificius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and easy read. Bock presents seven reflections on the gospel. His thesis is that the cross is the center of the gospel, but that the cross brings many other implications.

In some ways, this work has some similarities to Milton Vincent's "A Gospel Primer for Christians." However, Bock develops his themes a bit more on the historical side than Vincent does, and he spends significantly more time unraveling these themes throughout the Bible.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I read over two years while waiting to see my eye doctor. The book was thin but had a very readable print. Bock thesis seems to be that we see the gospel as the cross and then stop there. He says that "The gospel starts with a promise: a relationship in the Spirit> It is pictured as a meal, and a washing: the Lord's table and baptism."

[Jeremy Pynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book on the entirety of the gospel message.

[A D · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a ton of great information in this book however none of it breaks any new ground.

[Dave Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I have read on the Gospel in a long while.

[Vincent Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

insightful

Good read. Interesting connection with the OT. Will purchase copies and give to others to read…should be read by first year biblical students…

[Janice Harwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The truth in the choice to be "saved".

Reading this book opened my eyes to the extremes in which the gospel is presented today. Both of them lead to the opinion that accepting Christ as your Savior is an end to itself. Be saved because it's the thing to do to be called a Christian or because it will keep one out of Hell. It makes me feel sad and intent on following God's way as the Bible shows us how we are to show all the love God has for us and the close relationship we have with Him like Jesus did. The result of accepting God's gift of faith to believe the atonement Jesus fulfilled on the cross is only the beginning of a spirit/God lead life that has us growing to be more and more like Jesus, spreading the Good News of God's love by our actions and our deeds and explaining the joy, peace, and motivation in our life.

[Sanjuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Darrell Bock effectively argues that the Gospel of the modern church is too narrowly defined. Not just about dying for sin, the Gospel includes a broad range of things, for instance, the offering of the Spirit. Bock also builds bridges where they have been broken between the cross and morality and demonstrates that law and Gospel are not enemies.

In these things, Bock is right on, and for anyone confused on these issues this will be a valuable book. The overall argument is right on. The book is easy to read and angled towards a popular level audience.

However, I also thought the book was a bit boring. The writing style was dry, and despite it's short length, I struggled to stay interested.

Overall a solid read - very informative.

[Todd Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bock works through the biblical presentations of the gospel and the biblical teaching on the implications of the gospel for those who believe. His argument is that we have forgotten why the gospel is good news, and he is relentless in drawing our attention back to why the biblical presentation of the gospel is the best news imaginable. Bock's material on repentance and faith is excellent. I would have liked to have seen him work through the relationship between the gospel and the Kingdom of God, as well as devote some space to the adoption as sons of all who respond in repentance and faith to the gospel.

[Glen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bock's central thesis of the gospel being a rediscovered relationship with God is carefully laid out in succinct fashion. He exposes alternative salvific concepts - such as grace being a transaction whereby our guilt is removed (paid) - as being too shallow of an explanation on God's central purpose in redeeming mankind.

I appreciated the way he organized key biblical passages around his argument. Several times his analysis of Scripture contained insights that helped the text take on a new richness for me. This is a good read for a wide audience. It has depth of content without being too technical.

[Todd Benkert · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this academic but accessible book, Darrell Bock explores the themes of the gospel that are often overlooked by Evangelicals today. His main thesis is that the gospel is much more than a transaction to remove sin in which forgiveness is granted in exchange for faith. Rather, the good news includes our restored relationship with God, and how the cross brings us to fellowship with God and His people. The book examines Scripture closely to reveal the themes often missing from our presentation and understanding of the gospel. Recommended for those who want to examine more closely the riches of the Christian message and a full-orbed understanding of this Good News!

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid, but dry. Maybe I'm not Bock's intended audience. Nonetheless, excellent examination of the Gospel based on Biblical Theology. Takes issue with the negative tone of much gospel preaching and emphasis on one-off decisions. I thought Scot McKnight's King Jesus Gospel was a better book on a similar issue.

[Park Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple and clear recapitulation of the premises and tenets of what the Good News provides. It's not just a "Get Out of Jail Free" card but, a responsibility to take seriously what the implications of following Jesus means. Just how involved in Redemption; and to what extent.

[Peter Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bock is a top New Testament scholar, and this succinct little gem offers a wealth of New Testament content that makes clear how the gospel is so much more than just a business transaction – it is about a relationship rooted in God’s love!

[Michael Philliber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly simple read. I think the following statement is the high-point and theme: "...the cross is the hub of the gospel, but Jesus' dying for sin is not the entire gospel" (3).