The gospel is a unifying thread that runs through the pages of Scripture, seamlessly bridging the Old and New Testaments. It captures Israel’s longing for deliverance from bondage and resonates with Jesus’s proclamation of the kingdom of God. Rooted in ancient Hebrew and Greek, the term “gospel” echoes through the ages as “beśōrâ” and “euangelion,” carrying the essence of “good news.” As we embark on a journey through historical records and delve deeper into Scripture, our mission is to unveil the profound essence of the gospel, distinguishing its unparalleled qualities from worldly narratives, and embracing its transformative power as the ultimate source of good news.
Echoes of War and Songs of Salvation
The term “gospel” can be traced back to the Hebrew noun “beśōrâ” and the verb “bāśar”. Within the Old Testament, beśōrâ and bāśar are intricately linked to two prominent motifs. The first is clustered around a military setting, particularly evident in the narratives surrounding the deaths of Saul and Absalom1. The second is associated with the prophetic pronouncements heralding God’s deliverance and redemption.
In the scenarios surrounding the deaths of Saul and Absalom, messengers played a crucial role in delivering the news to King David. Both beśōrâ and bāśar were employed, with bāśar being the more prevalent term. It’s intriguing to observe that while the messengers heralded these occurrences as good news, King David’s perspective was markedly different. Rather than rejoicing, he was engulfed in profound sorrow, mourning the loss of both Saul and his own son, Absalom.
The verb bāśar conveys the actions of bringing news, often associated with the delivery and reception of good news. The use of bāśar can be seen in 2 Samuel 18:26 when a watchman observes a lone man running and alerts the king, indicating that the man likely carries news.
The watchman saw another man running. And the watchman called to the gate and said, “See, another man running alone!” The king said, “He also brings news.” 2 Samuel 18:26
The noun beśōrâ signifies both good news and messenger’s reward. An example of beśōrâ is found in 2 Samuel 4:10, when a messenger brought news of Saul’s death. Additionally, in 2 Samuel 18:22, beśōrâ is utilized to signify the compensation or reward for a messenger.
When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings 2 Samuel 4:10 (KJV)
Then Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said again to Joab, “Come what may, let me also run after the Cushite.” And Joab said, “Why will you run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?” 2 Samuel 18:22
In other parts of the Old Testament, “besora” is used to convey news, good news, and unknown news. News simply denotes information about recent and important events, as seen in 2 Samuel 18:20, where Joab advises against delivering news on a particular day due to the death of the king’s son. Good News refers to positive information about recent and significant events worthy of celebration. An example is found in 2 Kings 7:9, where individuals recognize a day of good news and share it with the king’s household. Unknown News represents informal information previously unknown to someone. An instance is illustrated in 2 Samuel 18:27, where the king acknowledges Ahimaaz’s arrival with good news.
A Tapestry of Divine Deliverance
The second significant instance of “good news” emerges within the book of Isaiah, recorded in the timeless verse Isaiah 52:7.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” —Isaiah 52:7
This renowned passage paints a vivid picture of hope and salvation, as the bearer of God’s message heralds peace, happiness, and the reign of the Almighty. Through imagery of a runner traversing the peaks, Isaiah captures the essence of triumphant deliverance, symbolizing the profound significance of God’s salvation not only for Israel but for all humanity. This narrative transcends time, inviting us to embrace the promise of divine deliverance and the establishment of God’s ultimate reign.
This idea resonates in Isaiah 61:1, where the anointed one is tasked with bringing good news to the poor and proclaiming liberty to the captives. A parallel theme is evident in the Psalms, urging the faithful to sing praises to the Lord and share His salvation daily (Psalm 96:2). The Psalms also highlight the significant role of women as bearers of divine news, emphasizing the great multitude proclaiming the Lord’s word (Psalm 68:11). Furthermore, Psalm 40:9 emphasizes the joyful proclamation of deliverance in the congregational setting.
The Gospel in the New Testament Narrative
In the Greek, the term “euangelion” resonates as both “gospel” and “good news,” reflecting its profound significance across multiple Bible translations. Through seven distinct senses within scripture, from the Gospel of Jesus to the gospel of the kingdom of God, the richness of the term “gospel” unfolds, offering a multifaceted understanding of its transformative power. This exploration delves into the depths of biblical revelation, illuminating the diverse dimensions of the Good News and its timeless relevance in guiding humanity towards hope and redemption.
Jesus: The Message and the Messenger
As Jesus stepped into history, in the fullness of time, the prevailing religious atmosphere was overshadowed by the pervasive influence of the Roman Imperial Cult. Around 27 BC—AD 14, the announcement (euangélion) of the divine ruler’s birth, ascent to power, or significant proclamations and actions were hailed as joyful tidings (euangélion), promising to fulfill the world’s desires for happiness and peace.2
While the emperor was celebrated as a divine ruler promising salvation and prosperity, Jesus presented a radically different message centered on repentance and the kingdom of God. This juxtaposition reveals the contrasting worlds of Caesar and Christ, both claiming to offer good news but embodying vastly different ideologies. While the imperial gospel (euangélion) promised worldly fulfillment, it ultimately fell short in comparison to the transformative and everlasting impact of the gospel of Jesus.
Jesus’s arrival marked a beacon of hope in a world overshadowed by sin, offering salvation and ushering in a new era of divine reign. During his reading of the scriptures in the temple, Jesus revealed that the words of messianic anticipation found their fulfillment in him3. Jesus’s primary message emphasized the kingdom of God, calling people to turn away from worldly systems and embrace loyalty to God. This gospel holds profound significance, resonating in both its messenger, Jesus, and its transformative message of salvation and kingdom citizenship.
The Gospel of Paul and the Apostles
The apostles, following Jesus’s example, urged people to forsake worldly systems in favor of embracing the kingdom of God. Their central message revolved around this kingdom, which they proclaimed as the ultimate good news, directly challenging the powers of the world. This message of the kingdom, echoed by both Jesus and the apostles, emphasized the revolutionary power of God’s reign over earthly affairs.
Paul’s unwavering confidence in the gospel stemmed from its divine origin, revealed to him by God rather than originating from human endeavors. This gospel, directly from God, was communicated through the apostles, akin to the heralds of the Old Testament who announced the coming of God. Paul’s mission centered on spreading this good news, extending its reach beyond Israel to the Gentiles, liberated from the constraints of Jewish regulations.4
Paul, recognizing his divine calling, fervently preached the gospel, referring to it as “my gospel” to highlight its distinctiveness. While sharing the same gospel preached in Jerusalem, Paul emphasized its liberation from Jewish regulations, making it accessible to Gentiles. When false teachings threatened to distort the gospel of grace, Paul swiftly intervened, denouncing these perversions and emphasizing the danger of deviating from the true message of Christ.5
As modern-day believers, we walk in the esteemed footsteps of the Apostles and Paul, resolutely declaring the timeless truth: There is but one gospel. Embracing this conviction, we boldly affirm, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel,” recognizing its unparalleled power as the catalyst for God’s salvation.6 This divine message transcends barriers of ethnicity and culture, extending its life-changing impact to all who believe, whether Jew or Gentile.
- Oswalt, J.N. (1999) “291 בָּשַׂר,” Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament. electronic ed. Edited by R.L. Harris, G.L. Archer Jr., and B.K. Waltke. Chicago: Moody Press. ↩︎
- Silva, M. (ed.) (2014) New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ↩︎
- Luke 4:18 ↩︎
- Silva, M. (ed.) (2014) New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ↩︎
- Silva, M. (ed.) (2014) New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. ↩︎
- Romans 1:16 ↩︎
Leave a Reply