Gospel Word Study

by Jeremy Myers

Things to note:

1. There are about 50 things the NT includes in its definition of “Gospel.” Even if some of these contain overlapping concepts, or some things have been included due to a misunderstanding of context, we still have quite a large number of items that the Bible includes as part of the Gospel.

2. The Gospel of John, which many Free Grace people think contains the clearest presentation of what a person must do to receive eternal life, never uses the word “Gospel” in any form.

3. Romans, Paul’s magnum opus, defines the Gospel as more than just “faith alone in Christ alone.” In fact, Paul seems to view the Gospel as more for believers, and how they can live a holy life to escape the temporal wrath of God, than for unbelievers.

4. Galatians, Paul’s defense of the “Gospel” is one of the few places where Scripture defines it as “faith alone in Christ alone” but adds the elements of “apart from works” and “In Abraham, all people on earth will be blessed.”

5. 1 Corinthians 15, which many people use as their formal definition of the “Gospel” doesn’t say anything about “faith alone in Christ alone” and in fact, includes much more than the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By my count, there are eleven elements of the Gospel just in 1 Cor 15 alone.

Bottom line: The “Gospel” in Scripture seems to include almost everything from Genesis to Revelation, or at the bare minimum, anything at all that has to do with Christ. The “Gospel” is much more than faith alone in Christ alone, though that concept is definitely part of the Gospel.

So when trying to figure out how much information a person needs to be justified, we should not be asking “What is the Gospel?” but “What is the justifying message?” or “What is the message of eternal life?” When that becomes the question, the answer is clear: Justification and eternal life comes through faith alone in Christ alone. That is the central tenant of the entire Gospel.

On the following handout, I have included the fifty items which seem to be included in the Gospel. This list is by no means definitive, and others may count or group them differently. Due to space constraints, I was not able to include the numerous other uses of euangelion or euangelizo„ in the NT, but these can be found on your manuscript CD.

Greek Noun: euangelion	English Noun: Gospel (NKJV)	Greek Verb: euangelizo„	English Other	Content of the Gospel (only new items will be added)
Matt 4:23	Matt 4:23			1. The kingdom is coming
Matt 9:35	Matt 9:35			1
	Matt 11:5	Matt 11:5		1
Matt 24:14	Matt 24:14			1 – in tribulation
Matt 26:13	Matt 26:13			1
Mk 1:1	Mk 1:1			2. The full story in Mark
Mk 1:14	Mk 1:14			1
Mk 1:15	Mk 1:15			1
Mk 8:35	Mk 8:35			1
Mk 10:29	Mk 10:29			1
Mk 13:10	Mk 13:10			1
Mk 14:9	Mk 14:9			1
Mk 16:15	Mk 16:15			2 3. Emphasis on resurrection 4. Believe to be saved 5. Be baptized
		Lk 1:19	bring glad tidings	6. Mary’s virgin conception
		Lk 2:10	bring good tidings	7. Jesus born in Bethlehem
		Lk 3:18	preached	8. Jesus is coming 9. Baptism of fire is coming 10. Baptism of HS is coming
	Lk 4:18	Lk 4:18		1
		Lk 4:43	proclaim good news	1
	Lk 7:22	Lk 7:22		1
		Lk 8:1	bringing glad tidings	1
	Lk 9:6	Lk 9:6		1
		Lk 16:16	has been preached	1
	Lk 20:1	Lk 20:1		1?
		Acts 5:42	preaching	11. Jesus is the Messiah
		Acts 8:4	preaching the word	??
	Acts 8:25	Acts 8:25		??
		Acts 8:35	preached	12. Jesus’ humiliation/death
		Acts 8:40	preached	??
		Acts 10:36	preaching	13. Jesus is Lord 14. Jesus was anointed 15. Jesus healed all 3
		Acts 13:32	declare glad tidings	3 4
	Acts 14:7	Acts 14:7		??
		Acts 14:15	proclaimed good news	16. Turn from idols to God
	Acts 14:21	Acts 14:21		??
Acts 15:7	Acts 15:7			??
		Acts 15:35	proclaiming the word	??
	Acts 16:10	Acts 16:10		??
		Acts 17:18	proclaim good news	includes 3
Acts 20:24	Acts 20:24			1
Rom. 1:1	Rom. 1:1			13 17. A physical descendant of David 18. The Son of God 3
Rom. 1:9	Rom. 1:9
	Rom. 1:15	Rom 1:15		19. How to live the justified life by faith
Rom. 1:16	Rom. 1:16			19
Rom. 2:16	Rom. 2:16			19
	Rom. 10:15	Rom 10:15		??
Rom. 10:16	Rom. 10:16			??
Rom. 11:28	Rom. 11:28			??
Rom. 15:16	Rom. 15:16			??
Rom. 15:19	Rom. 15:19			??
	Rom. 15:20	Rom 15:20		??
Rom 5:29(mt)	Rom. 15:29			??
Rom. 16:25	Rom. 16:25			??
	1 Cor 1:17	1 Cor 1:17		20. The message of the cross
1 Cor 4:15	1 Cor 4:15			??
1 Cor 9:12	1 Cor 9:12			??
1 Cor 9:14	1 Cor 9:14			??
	1 Cor 9:16	1 Cor 9:16		??
1 Cor 9:18	1 Cor 9:18			??
	1 Cor 9:18	1 Cor 9:18		??
1 Cor 9:23	1 Cor 9:23			??
1 Cor 15:1	1 Cor 15:1			21. Christ died 22. For our sins 23. He was buried 24. He rose from the dead 25. the third day 26. As Scripture teaches 27. He appeared to Cephas 28. He appeared to the 12 29. He appeared to 500 30. He appeared to James 31. He appeared to all the apostles 32. He appeared to Paul
	1 Cor 15:1	1 Cor 15:1		21-32
		1 Cor 15:2	the word...preached	21-32
2 Cor 2:12	2 Cor 2:12			??
2 Cor 4:3	2 Cor 4:3			??
2 Cor 4:4	2 Cor 4:4			??
2 Cor 8:18	2 Cor 8:18			??
2 Cor 9:13	2 Cor 9:13			??
2 Cor 10:14	2 Cor 10:14			??
	2 Cor 10:16	2 Cor 10:16		??
2 Cor 11:4	2 Cor 11:4			??
2 Cor 11:7	2 Cor 11: 7			??
	2 Cor 11:7	2 Cor 11:7		??
Gal. 1:6	Gal. 1:6			33
Gal. 1:7	Gal. 1:7			33
	Gal. 1:8	Gal. 1:8		33
	Gal. 1:9	Gal. 1:9		33
Gal. 1:11	Gal. 1:11			33
	Gal 11:11	Gal 1:11		33
		Gal. 1:16	preach	33
		Gal. 1:23	proclaim good news	33
Gal. 2:2	Gal. 2:2			33
Gal. 2:5	Gal. 2:5			33
Gal. 2:7	Gal. 2:7			33
Gal. 2:14	Gal. 2:14			33. Not justified by works, but by faith in Christ (2:16)
	Gal. 3:8			34. In Abraham, all people will be blessed
	Gal. 4:13	Gal. 4:13		33
Eph. 1:13	Eph. 1:13			??
		Eph. 2:17	preached	??
Eph. 3:6	Eph. 3:6			35
		Eph 3:8	proclaim good news	35. Unsearchable riches in Christ and fellowship of the mystery
Eph. 6:15	Eph. 6:15			??
Eph. 6:19	Eph. 6:19			35
Php 1:5	Php 1:5			??
Php 1:7	Php 1:7			??
Php 1:12	Php 1:12			??
Php 1:16	Php 1:16			??
Php 1:27	Php 1:27			??
Php 2:22	Php 2:22			??
Php 4:3	Php 4:3			??
Php 4:15	Php 4:15			??
Col. 1:5	Col. 1:5			36. Hope laid up for you in heaven
Col. 1:23	Col. 1:23			36
1 Thess 1:5	1 Thess 1:5			37
1 Thess 2:2	1 Thess 2:2			37
1 Thess 2:4	1 Thess 2:4			37
1 Thess 2:8	1 Thess 2:8			37
1 Thess 2:9	1 Thess 2:9			37. That you walk worthy of God (2:12)
1 Thess 3:2	1 Thess 3:2			??
		1 Thess 3:6	declared good news	38. Good news about another church’s faith and love
2 Thess 1:8	2 Thess 1:8			??
2 Thess 2:14	2 Thess 2:14			39. God chose you for salvation through sanctification, by the Spirit and belief in the truth
1 Tim 1:11	1 Tim 1:11			40. All are sinners, but all who believe receive everlasting life (1:15-16)
2 Tim 1:8	2 Tim 1:8 (inclusio with 1:10)			41. Called with a holy calling 33 42. Given in Christ before time began 43. Now given in Christ’s appearing 44. He abolished death 45. He brought life and immortality to light
2 Tim 1:10	2 Tim 1:10			inclusio with 1:8
2 Tim 2:8	2 Tim 2:8			17 24
Phlm 1:13	Phlm 1:13			??
	Heb. 4:2	Heb 4:2		46. Entering God’s rest (Note: Whatever “gospel” the writer of Hebrews is using, is the same “gospel” that was preached to the Israelites in the wilderness wanderings)
		Heb 4:6	preached	56
	1 Pet 1:12	1 Pet 1:12		47. Sufferings of Christ 48. Glories that would follow (1:11)
	1 Pet 1:25	1 Pet 1:25		?? – though if Peter is referring specifically to Isa 40:6-8, we have several more elements of the gospel
	1 Pet 4:6	1 Pet 4:6		?? – preached to the dead?
1 Pet 4:17	1 Pet 4:17			??
		Rev. 10:7	declared	??
Rev. 14:6	Rev. 14:6			49. Fear God. glorify, worship God 50. Judgment has come
	Rev 14:6	Rev 14:6		49-50