Kerygma Ventures
What is Kerygma?
In short, the Kerygma is the gospel — the King's victory, announced.
The Greek word kerygma describes a well-known practice in the ancient world. When a king wanted to publicize his decrees throughout his realm, he would send a kerux — what we know in English as a town crier or herald. Often a trusted advisor or confidant of the king, the herald would travel throughout the empire announcing the kerygma: the news the king wanted delivered. This was especially important in the context of war. When the king's army won a great battle and conquered new territory, the herald would travel within the newly acquired regions announcing the victory and proclaiming the order of the newly expanded kingdom.
In Mark 1, as he launches his earthly ministry, Jesus himself takes on this role — announcing the coming of a new kingdom and explaining what it took to live in it: repentance and faith.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)
The New Testament apostles quickly adopted this imagery to describe their own roles as heralds — announcing the arrival and victory of King Jesus and explaining the order of his kingdom. The essence of this proclamation is the good news (euangelion): the King had arrived, and through his death, resurrection and exaltation he had won the victory and was enforcing his kingdom. This message animated the early church. It drove Paul and the other apostles to risk — and ultimately give up — their lives for just another opportunity to make the announcement.
The Apostolic Gospel
The five elements of the Kerygma
Over the years, the Kerygma became the designation for the essential, irreducible elements of the apostolic gospel. In its most basic form it contains five declarations.
1. The Kingdom Inaugurated
The coming of Jesus Christ fulfills all the promises of history and inaugurates the kingdom of God on earth.
2. Sin Forgiven
Jesus' life, death, and resurrection accomplish the forgiveness of sin.
3. Jesus Reigns
From his exalted position as ascended Messiah, Jesus rules over all things.
4. The Spirit Empowers
The presence of the Holy Spirit signifies his present reign and empowers believers to fulfill their destiny as image-bearers.
5. A Response Demanded
This declaration demands a response of repentance and complete trust.
When the apostles preached the kerygma they were not just telling about Jesus, his teachings, and his miracles. He was present in their preaching, so those who heard would either embrace him or reject him. To some it would be scandalous. To others, foolish. But to those who could hear, it was supernatural power and divine wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:21–25).
We are under mandate to announce what God has done in Christ with all its ramifications — and under constraint to proclaim nothing beyond and nothing short of his gospel. If we just preach about him or his teachings, we fail. We must present him. In the power of the Spirit, we expect his word to accomplish what it always does when it goes forth.