1. We learn in Paul’s gospel that the believer is “justified from all things” (Acts 13:38-39). The JND translation shows the correct reading: “in Him,” rather than “by Him” (vs. 39). Paul alone teaches that the believer is “in Christ” (Rom. 6:23; Rom. 8:1 JND).
2. We learn from Paul’s ministry the truth of the “one body.” Christ and His church are one (Eph. 3:16; 1 Cor. 12:12-13).
3. We also learn an added truth as to the Lord’s supper. Previous to Paul’s revelation, believers were breaking bread, thus commemorating the Lord’s death (Acts 2:42). Now Paul gives the added blessed truth that the one loaf is a symbol of our oneness with Christ. He received it “of the Lord,” that is, by revelation (1 Cor. 10:15-17; 1 Cor. 11:23-26).
4. We learn from Paul’s gospel the truth of “the rapture”: the coming of the Lord to receive us to Himself before the day of tribulation (1 Thess. 4:13-18). This is the first revelation of the Lord’s coming for us before the day of glory for Israel.
5. We also learn from Paul’s gospel that the believer who passes through death is “absent from the body, and... present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8). There was no revelation of this truth until Paul gave it. No Old Testament scripture reveals this precious truth. The dying thief was the first of which we have any record, and he had it for himself only. Paul received it for the church.
6. Paul alone tells us that in resurrection we will have incorruptible and immortal bodies. Added to this he also tells that our bodies will be like Christ (1 Cor. 15:35-54; Phil. 3:21).
It is very important to see that Paul alone gives us all the above teaching, which he received, not by reading the Old Testament, but by revelation. It was not the fulfilling of Old Testament promises (of which Peter speaks), but new revelations from Christ in glory. It is all connected with our heavenly calling. Peter links the chain in 1 Peter 1, by contrasting our heavenly hope with that of Israel’s hope, but goes no further. Peter never gives the ministry committed to Paul, though he commends the teaching of Paul, and there is no doubt that Peter learned it from Paul (Eph. 3:5; 2 Pet. 3:15-16).
H. E. Hayhoe (from The Gospel Paul Preached)