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What Is The Gospel?

The Gospel in the NT is referred to in Acts 13:32 (KJV) as “glad tidings” and refers to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 13:29-30,33-37; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4). According to “Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and NT Words,” (1981); p. 167-168, the word “Gospel” comes from the Greek (noun) word, “Euangelion” and originally denoted a reward for good tidings. Later, the idea of reward dropped, and the word stood for the good news itself. Our English word “evangel” (bringing good news) is the equivalent of “euangelion”. Our English word “evangelist” means “bringer of good news”.

In the NT, it denotes the “good tidings” of the kingdom of God and of salvation through Christ, to be received by faith, on the basis of His expiatory death, His burial, resurrection, and ascension (Acts 15:7; Acts 20:24; 1 Peter 4:17). The Apostle Paul uses this phrase of two associated yet distinct things.

1) Of the basic facts of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-3).

2) Of the interpretation of these facts (Romans 2:16; Gal. 1:7, 11; Gal. 2:2).

The Greek (verb) word “Euangelizo” means to bring or announce glad tidings (Eng., evangelize), is used: (1) In the Active Voice in Revelation 10:7 (“declared”) and Revelation 14:6 (“to proclaim,” R.V., A.V., “to preach”); (2) In the Passive Voice, of matters to be proclaimed as glad tidings (Luke 16:16; Gal. 1:11; 1 Peter 1:25); of persons to whom the proclamation is made (Matthew 11:5; Luke 7:22; Hebrews 4:2,6; 1 Peter 4:6); (3) In the Middle Voice, especially of the message of salvation, with a personal object, either of the Person preached (e.g. Acts 5:42; Acts 11:20; Gal. 1:16), or, with a preposition, of the persons evangelized (e.g. Acts 13:32), “declare glad tidings”; (Romans 1:15; Gal. 1:8); with an impersonal object, (e.g., “the word,” (Acts 8:4); “good tidings,” (Acts 8:12); “the word of the Lord,” (Acts 15:35); “the gospel”, (1 Corinthians 15:1; 2 Corinthians 11:7); “the faith”, (Gal. 1:23); “peace”, (Ephesians 2:17); “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” (Ephesians 3:8).

In the New Testament, the gospel never means simply “a book” but rather the message which Christ and His apostles announced. The following are the different phrases that the gospel is called in the NT:

1) “the gospel of God” (Romans 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:2,9; 1 Timothy 1:11).
2) “the gospel of Christ” (Mark 1:1; Romans 1:16; Romans 15:19; 1 Corinthians 9:12,18; Gal. 1:7).
3) “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
4) “the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15).
5) “the gospel of your salvation” (Ephesians 1:13).
6) “the glorious gospel of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4).

The gospel is Christ! He is the subject, object and the life of it. It was preached by Him (Matthew 4:23; Matthew 11:5; Mark 1:14; Luke 4:18). It was preached by the apostles (Acts 16:10; Romans 1:15; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 9:16) and by the evangelists (Acts 8:25).

The gospel, then, is the message of God, the teaching of Christianity, the redemption in and by Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, offered to all mankind (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16; Romans 1:5; Romans 16:25-26).