Bible Lexicons

εὐαγγέλιον, εὐαγγελίου, τό (εὐάγγελος (cf. εὐαγγελίζω)), Hebrew בְּשׂורָה and בְּשֹׂרָה;

1. a reward for good tidings (cf. τά διδασκαλία, the fees given the διδάσκαλος), Homer, Odyssey 14, 152; Cicero, ad Att. 2, 3 and 12; 13, 40; Plutarch, Demetr. 17; Ages. 33; the Sept. 2 Samuel 4:10.

2. good tidings: Lucian, asin. 26; Appendix,

b. civ. 4, 20; Plutarch; others; plural the Sept. 2 Samuel 18:22, 25, common text; but in each place εὐαγγελία should apparently be restored, on account of 2 Samuel 18:20 ἀνήρ εὐαγγελίας. In the N. T., specifically,

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: Mark 1:15; Mark 8:35; Mark 10:29; Mark 13:10; Mark 14:9; Mark 16:15; Matthew 26:13; with a genitive of the object added: τῆς βασιλείας, Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 24:14; Mark 1:14 R L brackets After the death of Christ the term τό εὐαγγέλιον comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for 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; so that it may be more briefly defined as "the glad tidings of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Christ; the gospel" (A-S. god-spell (see Skeat, Etymological Dictionary, under the word)): Acts 15:7; Romans 1:16 G L T Tr WH; ; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 9:14, 18 (G L T Tr WH), ; ; 2 Corinthians 8:18; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 6:19 (L WH brackets ἐυαγελιον); Philippians 1:5, 7, 12, 17 (); (, cf. εἰς, B. II. 2 d.); Philippians 4:3 (, cf. Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 47, 2 [ET]); 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:8, 10; with a genitive of the object, the gospel concerning etc.: τοῦ Χριστοῦ (cf. Winer's Grammar, 186f (175f)), Romans 1:16 Rec.; Rec.; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 18 (Rec.); 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 2 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 1:7; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (T Tr WH omit; L brackets Χριστοῦ); τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Romans 1:9 cf. Mark 1:1; τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, Ephesians 1:13; τῆς εἰρήνης, Ephesians 6:15; τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ, Acts 20:24; τῆς δόξης τοῦ μακαρίου Θεοῦ, 1 Timothy 1:11; τῆς δόξης τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 2 Corinthians 4:4. ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, the truth contained in the gospel (cf. Winer's Grammar, 236 (221f)), Galatians 2:5, 14; Colossians 1:5; ἡ ἐλπίς τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, the hope which the gospel awakens and strengthens, Colossians 1:23; ἡ πίστις τοῦ εὐαγγελίου the faith given the gospel, Philippians 1:27; οἱ δεσμοί τοῦ εὐαγγελίου (see δεσμός, at the end), Philemon 1:13; ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον of another sort, i. e. different from the true doctrine concerning Christian salvation, Galatians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 11:4; αἰώνιον εὐαγγέλιον, the contents of which were decreed by God from eternity, Revelation 14:6. with the genitive of the author; and that α. of the author of the subject-matter or facts on which the glad tidings of man's salvation rest, and who wished these glad tidings to be conveyed to men: τό εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8; 1 Peter 4:17; more fully τοῦ Θεοῦ περί τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, Romans 1:1-3. β. of the author of the particular mode in which the subject-matter of the gospel is understood (conception of the gospel) and taught to others; thus Paul calls his exposition of the gospel (and that of the teachers who agree with him), in opposition to that of those teaching differently, τό εὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν: 2 Corinthians 4:3 (cf. τό εὐαγγέλιον τό εὐαγγελισθέν ὑπ' ἐμοῦ, Galatians 1:11); κατά τό εὐαγγέλιον μου, as I expound it, Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8. γ. of him who preaches the gospel: ἡμῶν, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. with the genitive of those to whom it is announced: τῆς περιτομῆς (i. e. τῶν περιτετμημενων), to be preached to the circumcised or Jews; and τό εὐαγγέλιον τῆς ἀκροβυστίας, to be carried to the Gentiles, Galatians 2:7.

b. 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 εὐαγγέλιον: so perhaps in Mark 1:1; for the passage may also mean, 'glad tidings concerning Jesus Christ began to be proclaimed even as it is written,' viz. by John the Baptist; cf. DeWette at the passage At length the name was given to a written narrative of the glad tidings; so in the titles of the Gospels, on which see κατά, II. 3 c. α. (On the ecclesiastical senses of the word, see Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word.)