Gospel Verses in the New Testament Scriptures
The term "gospel" derives from the Old English "godspell," meaning "good message" or "good news," which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion [1]. This "good news" is central to the New Testament, referring primarily to the life and teachings of Jesus Christ [1, 6].
The concept of the gospel was not entirely new with the advent of Christ. It was "promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures" [4]. For instance, the Scripture is said to have "preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham" in Genesis, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith [5]. Old Testament passages like Isaiah 41:27, 52:7, and 61:1-3 are identified as foretelling the gospel [2]. The "sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow" were testified by the Spirit of Christ in Old Testament prophets, with Isaiah 53 being a particularly clear prophecy [8].
The New Testament itself is often referred to as the "New Covenant," contrasting with the "old covenant of works" [3]. This new covenant is described as "ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent," and is dispensed "in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" [3]. The four inspired histories of Christ's life and teaching—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are specifically called Gospels [1]. These were composed in the latter half of the first century, with Matthew and Mark written before the destruction of Jerusalem, Luke around A.D. 64, and John towards the end of the century [1].
The gospel is characterized as "good tidings of great joy for all people" (Luke 2:10-11, 31-32) [2]. It exhibits the grace of God (Acts 14:3, 20:32) and brings life and immortality to light through Jesus (2 Timothy 1:10) [2]. It is described as the "power of God to salvation" (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18) and is considered glorious and everlasting (2 Corinthians 4:4; 1 Peter 1:25; Revelation 14:6) [2]. Ministers are given a stewardship to preach this gospel (1 Corinthians 9:17), and Christ himself preached it (Matthew 4:23; Mark 1:14) [2]. The preaching of the gospel involves proclaiming Christ and salvation through him, rather than focusing on self, morality, or works-based righteousness [7].
Sources
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: New Testament — (Luke 22:20), rather "New Covenant," in contrast to the old covenant of works, which is superseded. "The covenant of grace is called new; it succeeds to the old broken covenant of works. It is ever fresh, flourishing, and excellent; and under the gospel it is dispensed in a more clear, spiritual, extensive, and powerful manner than of old" (Brown of Haddington). Hence is derived the name given to the latter portion of the Bible. (See [438]TESTAMENT.)”
- Romans “Romans 1:2 (BSB) — the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,”
- Galatians “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you all the nations will be blessed.” -- Galatians 3:8”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 1:1: We may observe here, I. What the New Testament is - the divine testament, to which we adhere above all that is human; the new testament, which we advance above that which was old. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God, Mar 1:1. 1. It is gospel; it is God's word, and is faithful and true; see Rev 19:9; Rev 21:5; Rev 22:6. It is a good word, and well worthy of all acceptation; it brings us glad tidings. 2. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the anointed Saviour, the Messiah promised and expected. The foregoing gospel began with the generation of Jesus Christ -”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 4:2: For unto us was the Gospel preached,.... The Gospel is the good news and glad tidings of salvation by Christ; and this may be said to be preached, when men preach not themselves, nor read lectures of morality, nor mix law and Gospel together, nor make justification and salvation to be by works, nor set persons to make their peace with God, or get an interest in Christ; but when they preach Christ and salvation alone by him; and so it was preached to the Hebrews, and that more fully, and with more clearness, power, and success than formerly; and which is a privilege an”
- Isaiah (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Isaiah 53 (introduction): The two great things which the Spirit of Christ in the Old Testament prophets testified beforehand were the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow, Pe1 1:11. And that which Christ himself, when he expounded Moses and all the prophets, showed to be the drift and scope of them all was that Christ ought to suffer and then to enter into his glory, Luk 24:26, Luk 24:27. But nowhere in all the Old Testament are these two so plainly and fully prophesied of as here in this chapter, out of which divers passages are quoted with application to Chr”