What does gospel mean?

Answer 1

The Greek word from which "gospel" is translated, euaggelion, literally means "good tidings."

More specifically, according to Strong's, "gospel" means:

a) the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom. After the death of Christ, the term comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for the men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God

b) the glad tidings of salvation through Christ

c) the proclamation of the grace of God manifest and pledged in Christ

Strong's goes on to say:

As the messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called the gospel or glad tidings.
It means "Good News".

Answer 2

noun

1. the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.
2. the story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
3. ( usually initial capital letter ) any of these four books.
4. something regarded as true and implicitly believed: to take his report for gospel.
5. a doctrine regarded as of prime importance: political gospel.
6. glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.
7. ( often initial capital letter ) Ecclesiastical . an extract from one of the four Gospels, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches.
8. Gospel Music.

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings: a gospel preacher.
2. in accordance with the gospel; evangelical.
3. of or pertaining to gospel music: a gospel singer.

Origin:

before 950; Middle English go ( d ) spell, Old English gōdspell ( see good, spell2 ); translation of Greek euangélion good news; see evangel1

- n

1. Also called: gospel truth an unquestionable truth: to take someone's word as gospel
2. a doctrine maintained to be of great importance
3. Black religious music originating in the churches of the Southern states of the United States
4. the message or doctrine of a religious teacher
5. a. the story of Christ's life and teachings as narrated in the Gospels

b. the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ

c. ( as modifier ): the gospel story

[Old English gōdspell, from gōd good + spell message; see spell ²; compare Old Norse guthspjall, Old High German guotspell ]

- n

1. any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
2. a reading from one of these in a religious service

Gospel definition

a word of Anglo-Saxon origin, and meaning "God's spell", i.e., word of God, or rather, according to others, "good spell", i.e., good news. It is the rendering of the Greek _evangelion_, i.e., "good message." It denotes (1) "the welcome intelligence of salvation to man as preached by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was afterwards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's life, published by those who are therefore called 'Evangelists', writers of the history of the gospel (the evangelion). (3.) The term is often used to express collectively the gospel doctrines; and 'preaching the gospel' is often used to include not only the proclaiming of the good tidings, but the teaching men how to avail themselves of the offer of salvation, the declaring of all the truths, precepts, promises, and threatening of Christianity." It is termed "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), "the gospel of the kingdom" (Matt. 4:23), "the gospel of Christ" (Rom. 1:16), "the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15), "the glorious gospel," "the everlasting gospel," "the gospel of salvation" (Eph. 1:13).