euangelion

What it means

From "good" and "message." In the Greek world it was the announcement of a victory or of a ruler's accession; Isaiah 40 and 52 use the verb for the news of God's coming reign. Mark's first line, "the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ," may serve as a title for the whole book, and Jesus' own first words are about believing it (1:15). English "gospel" comes from Old English "good news."

Range of meaning

• Good newsAn announcement of something joyful.
• Announcement of victoryNews of a king's triumph or accession.
• The gospelThe message about Jesus, later also a name for books like Mark.

In Mark

• Chapter 1

  "The beginning of the good news" (1:1), and "believe in the good news" (1:15).

• Chapter 13

  The gospel must first be preached to all nations (13:10).

• Chapter 16

  "Preach the gospel to the whole creation" (16:15, longer ending).