Gospel

Gospel (Old English gōdspel, “good news”) renders the Greek euangelion—the root of the English words evangel and evangelist. In ordinary Greek the word announced glad tidings such as a victory in battle or the birth of a royal heir, and in the imperial cult it heralded the “good news” of a new emperor. The New Testament seizes the term for the one decisive announcement: the good news of salvation accomplished by God in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By extension “gospel” also came to name the four canonical accounts of his life—the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—though in the apostolic writings it refers first of all to the message, not the books.

Its roots lie in the prophets, especially Isaiah's herald who runs over the mountains to announce God's reign: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news” (Isaiah 52:7; cf. Isaiah 40:9). The Spirit-anointed servant is sent “to bring good news to the poor” (Isaiah 61:1)—the very text Jesus read in the synagogue and declared fulfilled in himself (Luke 4:18–21). Jesus accordingly opened his ministry proclaiming “the gospel of the kingdom” (Matthew 4:23): “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14–15).

Paul gives the gospel its sharpest summary, handing on what he himself received: “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). It is the good news “concerning his Son, who was descended from David… and was declared to be the Son of God in power… by his resurrection” (Romans 1:3–4), and so it is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16), revealing a righteousness received by faith. Because everything hangs on this message, Paul fences it fiercely: even if an angel should preach a different gospel—one that adds conditions to grace—let him be accursed (Galatians 1:6–9).

This good news was promised beforehand to Abraham, in whom all nations would be blessed (Galatians 3:8), and is now entrusted to the church to carry to the ends of the earth: “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15; cf. Matthew 28:19–20). The gospel is therefore both event and announcement—the finished work of Christ, and the proclamation of it that summons all people to repentance and faith. It stands at the center of Scripture, the message angels long to look into (1 Peter 1:12) and an “eternal gospel” to be announced to every nation and tongue (Revelation 14:6), holding out to those who believe the free gift of forgiveness, reconciliation, and everlasting life in Jesus Christ.