Gospel Word Study

Script References

INTRODUCTION 00:00-00:41

If you know any Christians, or if you happen to be one, you’ve probably heard the word
“gospel” as a kind of summary of Christian belief, connected to phrases like, “God loves
you” or “Jesus died for your sins.”

But over time, religious words like gospel can lose their power and meaning by becoming
too familiar. So let’s take a moment to rediscover what this important word gospel meant
to the people who wrote the Bible.

Gospel translates the Old Testament Hebrew verb bisser and the noun besorah. The
Greek New Testament equivalent is euangelion, which is a compound word. “Eu” means
good, and “angelion” means announcement. All of these words mean “good news,” but
what kind of news?

GOSPEL IN THE OLD TESTAMENT 00:42-01:28

Well in Hebrew, bisser is what we might call national news or a royal announcement.
Like when King David hears a messenger bisser that his army was victorious in a battle1,
that means he still rules on his throne over the people of Israel. And after David dies, his
throne is passed onto Solomon, his son. And when he was inaugurated as king in Jeru-
salem, a herald spreads the besorah that a new ruler is in charge.2 But after Solomon’s
death came a bunch of “bad news” kings, whose corruption led their nation into self-de-
struction.3

1. 2 Samuel 18:31 3. 1 Kings 12-2 Kings

2. 1 Kings 1:42

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This is why the prophet Isaiah announced the good news that one day the God of Israel
would come as the cosmic king to confront all corrupt and violent kingdoms and restore
his rule over all nations.4

JESUS’ GOSPEL 01:28-02:51

And so when Jesus of Nazareth hit the public stage, he continued Isaiah’s gospel when
he went around announcing the euangelion of God’s Kingdom.5 Jesus claimed that God
was restoring his reign over his people Israel and over all nations, and he was the one
bringing it all about.

Now, the euangelion about a new king in charge means a new way of life. Jesus said that
living in God’s Kingdom meant following him by putting down the sword and seeking
peace through radical forgiveness and generosity, even towards your enemies.6

His good news required people to make a decision.7 This is why Jesus took his euangelion
to Jerusalem to confront the corrupt and violent kingdoms of his day.8 But he challenged
them in a surprising way—with the power of God’s generous love.9

As Jesus was being executed by his enemies, he received his crown and was mocked as a
fake king10, but he displayed true royal authority by forgiving his tormentors.11 Jesus was
the one in charge that day, giving his life for the sins of others12, and then a few days later,
everything changed.13

Jesus rose from the dead as the true king, whose love is stronger than death. He appeared
to hundreds of his followers14 and told them to spread the euangelion that all authority in
heaven and earth now belongs to him.15

4. Isaiah 52:7 10. Matthew 27:27-31

5. Matthew 4:23 11. Luke 23:34
6. Matthew 5-7 12. Matthew 27:45-50, Mark 10:45
7. Mark 1:15 13. Matthew 28:1-6
8. Luke 9:51 14. 1 Corinthians 15:6
9. Matthew 20:17-19 15. Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15
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 JESUS’ FOLLOWERS RESPOND TO THE GOSPEL 02:52-04:30

And they did share this good news all over the ancient world. They did it by writing the
four accounts of Jesus’ life that are the Gospel. They tell the story of how Jesus brought
God’s Kingdom, how he lived for others and died for their sins, and then was raised from
the dead.16

Jesus’ followers also shared the good news by simply talking about it. This is why Peter
and Paul,17 or Priscilla and Aquila,18 traveled all around sharing the royal announcement.
While it might look like the rulers of our world are in charge and can do whatever they
want, the good news is that the crucified and risen Jesus is the true Lord of the world, the
real King of all creation.19

And in Jesus’ Kingdom, things are different. It’s where the real leaders are the servants
because the last are first and the first go to the back of the line.20 It’s where the hungry
are fed and the homeless are welcome because love is the most powerful reality of God’s
Kingdom.21

And this good news is not easy to believe; it actually sounds kind of crazy when you first
hear it. But something happens when people tell the story of Jesus and start living like he
really is the king of the world. That’s when this gospel becomes the best news that you’ve
ever heard.

16. Matthew, Mark, Luke/Acts, John 19. Ephesians 1:15-22, Colossians 2:15
17. Acts 11:1-18, Acts 16:10 20. Matthew 20:25-28
18. Romans 16:3-4 21. 1 John 4:7-21
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