six constant elements, which usually, though not always, introduced what followed as the kerygma, the gospel or the word about: 1. God who 2. sent (Gospels) or raised 3. Jesus [which required] 4. a response (receiving, repentance, faith) 5. toward God [and] 6. brought benefits (variously described).31 Lemcio summarized his contention for a unifying core this way: In this spar[s]e statement (hardly more than a dozen words in many instances) lies the skeleton of every Christian conviction.… So far
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