Website owner:  James Miller

  MEANING OF THE TERM "GOSPEL" AS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT   6/98

   What is the meaning of the term "gospel" as used in the New 
   Testament?  We read repeatedly that Christ went about preaching 
   "the gospel of the kingdom".  His instructions to his followers 
   were to preach this gospel to the whole world.  What was this 
   "gospel of the kingdom" that he preached and that he wanted 
   preached to the entire world?  The term is used frequently in 
   the New Testament but it is similar to an undefined term in a 
   technical manual.  When you ask what the definition of the term 
   is it is hard to find one.  It is repeatedly used but never 
   really explained or defined.  Is it just simply the collective 
   teachings of Christ when he was here?  This "gospel of the 
   kingdom" that he preached obviously didn't include the idea 
   that he came to earth to pay for the sins of mankind because he 
   only alluded to this fact a few times in his ministry and 
   when he did people didn't understand what he was talking about.  
   There are several passages that may give clues as to the 
   meaning of the term.  Let us list them: 

   Rev 14:6,7  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of 
   heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that 
   dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and 
   tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and 
   give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and 
   worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the 
   fountains of waters. 

   Matt 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, 
   Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

   Luke 24:47  And that repentance and remission of sins should 
   be preached among all nations, beginning at Jersalem.

   Mat 24:14   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in 
   all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall 
   the end come.

   Mark 1:14,15  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came 
   into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and 
   saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at 
   hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

   Mark 6:12   And they went out, and preached that men should 
   repent.

   Acts 2:38   Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized 
   every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission 
   of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

   Acts 3:19   Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your 
   sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall 
   come from the presence of the Lord; 


   If this (repent - turn from your sins, and your sins will be 
   blotted out and you will escape eternal damnation)is what is 
   meant by "the gospel of the kingdom" that Jesus preached and 
   wanted preached throughout the world it is consistent with the 
   central message of the Old Testament which is, in a nutshell: 
   "Turn from your sin, turn to God.  Fear, obey, love, worship 
   and serve him and escape God's wrath".

   How does this meaning of the term "gospel" square with its 
   meaning as used by the modern evangelicals?  It squares with 
   the message, "Repent of your sins, turn to God, and serve him", 
   a message commonly preached.  The evangelicals use a number of 
   phrases to express their formula for becoming "saved".  The 
   phrase, "Give your heart to the Lord" probably means about the 
   same as "Repent of your sins and serve God."  Another phrase 
   used, "Accept Christ as your Savior", is different, however.  
   The meaning is different.  Its meaning is somewhat akin to 
   "just believe in Jesus and you will be saved."  Its meaning 
   doesn't necessarily imply repentance or continued following of 
   God's way.




  OCCURRENCES OF THE WORD "GOSPEL" IN THE NEW TESTAMENT 


   Mat 4:23   And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their 
   synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and 
   healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among 
   the people. 

   Mat 9:35   And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, 
   teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the 
   kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the 
   people. 

   Mat 11:5   The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, 
   the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised 
   up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 

   Mat 24:14   And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in 
   all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall 
   the end come. 

   Mat 26:13   Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel 
   shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, 
   that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. 

   Mark 1:1   The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son 
   of God; 

   Mark 1:14,15  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came 
   into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and 
   saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at 
   hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

   Mark 13:10   And the gospel must first be published among all 
   nations. 

   Mark 14:9   Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel 
   shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that 
   she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her. 

   Mark 16:15   And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, 
   and preach the gospel to every creature. 

   Luke 4:18   The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath 
   anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me 
   to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the 
   captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at 
   liberty them that are bruised, 

   Luke 7:22   Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, 
   and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the 
   blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf 
   hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached. 

   Luke 9:6   And they departed, and went through the towns, 
   preaching the gospel, and healing every where. 

   Luke 20:1   And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as 
   he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, 
   the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the 
   elders, 

   Acts 8:25   And they, when they had testified and preached the 
   word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the 
   gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. 

   Acts 14:7   And there they preached the gospel. 

   Acts 14:21   And when they had preached the gospel to that 
   city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and 
   to Iconium, and Antioch, 

   Acts 15:7   And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose 
   up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a 
   good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by 
   my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. 

   Acts 16:10   And after he had seen the vision, immediately we 
   endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the 
   Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them. 

   Acts 20:24   But none of these things move me, neither count I 
   my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with 
   joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, 
   to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 

   Rom 1:1   Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an 
   apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

   Rom 1:9   For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in 
   the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of 
   you always in my prayers; 

   Rom 1:15   So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the 
   gospel to you that are at Rome also. 

   Rom 1:16   For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it 
   is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; 
   to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

   Rom 2:16   In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men 
   by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. 

   Rom 10:15   And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as 
   it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach 
   the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 

   Rom 10:16   But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias 
   saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 

   Rom 11:28   As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your 
   sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the 
   fathers' sakes. 

   Rom 15:16   That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to 
   the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering 
   up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the 
   Holy Ghost. 

   Rom 15:19   Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of 
   the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto 
   Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 

   Rom 15:20   Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not 
   where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's 
   foundation: 

   Rom 15:29   And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall 
   come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. 

   Rom 16:25   Now to him that is of power to stablish you 
   according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, 
   according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept 
   secret since the world began, 

   1 Cor 1:17   For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach 
   the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ 
   should be made of none effect. 

   1 Cor 4:15   For though ye have ten thousand instructors in 
   Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I 
   have begotten you through the gospel. 

   1 Cor 9:12   If others be partakers of this power over you, are 
   not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but 
   suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. 

   1 Cor 9:14   Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which 
   preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 

   1 Cor 9:16   For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to 
   glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, 
   if I preach not the gospel! 

   1 Cor 9:17   For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: 
   but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is 
   committed unto me. 

   1 Cor 9:18   What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach 
   the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, 
   that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 

   1 Cor 15:1   Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel 
   which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and 
   wherein ye stand; 

   2 Cor 2:12   Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach 
   Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, 

   2 Cor 4:3   But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that 
   are lost: 

   2 Cor 4:4   In whom the god of this world hath blinded the 
   minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious 
   gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto 
   them. 

   2 Cor 8:18   And we have sent with him the brother, whose 
   praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; 

   2 Cor 9:13   Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they 
   glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of 
   Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto 
   all men; 

   2 Cor 10:14   For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure, 
   as though we reached not unto you: for we are come as far as to 
   you also in preaching the gospel of Christ: 

   2 Cor 10:16   To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, 
   and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to 
   our hand. 

   2 Cor 11:4   For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, 
   whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, 
   which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have 
   not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

   2 Cor 11:7   Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that 
   ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel 
   of God freely? 

   Gal 1:6   I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that 
   called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 

   Gal 1:7   Which is not another; but there be some that trouble 
   you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 

   Gal 1:8   But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any 
   other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto 
   you, let him be accursed. 

   Gal 1:9   As we said before, so say I now again, If any man 
   preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, 
   let him be accursed. 

   Gal 1:11   But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which 
   was preached of me is not after man. 

   Gal 2:2   And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto 
   them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but 
   privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I 
   should run, or had run, in vain. 

   Gal 2:5   To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an 
   hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

   Gal 2:7   But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of 
   the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the 
   circumcision was unto Peter; 

   Gal 2:14   But when I saw that they walked not uprightly 
   according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before 
   them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of 
   Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the 
   Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 

   Gal 3:8   And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify 
   the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto 
   Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

   Gal 4:13   Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I 
   preached the gospel unto you at the first. 

   Eph 1:13   In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the 
   word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after 
   that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of 
   promise, 

   Eph 3:6   That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the 
   same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the 
   gospel: 

   Eph 6:15   And your feet shod with the preparation of the 
   gospel of peace; 

   Eph 6:19   And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, 
   that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of 
   the gospel, 

   Phil 1:5   For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day 
   until now; 

   Phil 1:7   Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, 
   because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, 
   and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are 
   partakers of my grace. 

   Phil 1:12   But I would ye should understand, brethren, that 
   the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto 
   the furtherance of the gospel; 

   Phil 1:17   But the other of love, knowing that I am set for 
   the defence of the gospel. 

   Phil 1:27   Only let your conversation be as it becometh the 
   gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be 
   absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one 
   spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the 
   gospel; 

   Phil 2:22   But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with 
   the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 

   Phil 4:3   And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those 
   women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, 
   and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book 
   of life. 

   Phil 4:15   Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning 
   of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church 
   communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye 
   only. 

   Col 1:5   For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, 
   whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 

   Col 1:23   If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, 
   and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye 
   have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is 
   under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; 

   1 Th 1:5   For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but 
   also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as 
   ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 

   1 Th 2:2   But even after that we had suffered before, and were 
   shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in 
   our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much 
   contention. 

   1 Th 2:4   But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust 
   with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but 
   God, which trieth our hearts. 

   1 Th 2:8   So being affectionately desirous of you, we were 
   willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, 
   but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 

   1 Th 2:9   For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: 
   for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable 
   unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 

   1 Th 3:2   And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of 
   God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to 
   establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 

   2 Th 1:8   In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know 
   not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

   2 Th 2:14   Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the 
   obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

   1 Tim 1:11   According to the glorious gospel of the blessed 
   God, which was committed to my trust. 

   2 Tim 1:8   Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of 
   our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the 
   afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 

   2 Tim 1:10   But is now made manifest by the appearing of our 
   Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath 
   brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 

   2 Tim 2:8   Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was 
   raised from the dead according to my gospel: 

   Phile 1:13   Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy 
   stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the 
   gospel: 

   Heb 4:2   For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto 
   them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being 
   mixed with faith in them that heard it. 

   1 Pet 1:12   Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto 
   themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are 
   now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel 
   unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which 
   things the angels desire to look into. 

   1 Pet 1:25   But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And 
   this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 

   1 Pet 4:6   For for this cause was the gospel preached also to 
   them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men 
   in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 

   1 Pet 4:17   For the time is come that judgment must begin at 
   the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the 
   end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

   Rev 14:6   And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, 
   having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on 
   the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and 
   people,