Gos"pel (?), n. [OE. gospel,
godspel, AS. godspell; god God + spell
story, tale. See God, and Spell,
v.]
1. Glad tidings; especially, the good news
concerning Christ, the Kingdom of God, and salvation.
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the
kingdom.
Matt. iv. 23.
The steadfast belief of the promises of the
gospel.
Bentley.
&fist; It is probable that gospel is from. OE.
godspel, God story, the narrative concerning God; but it was
early confused with god spell, good story, good tidings, and
was so used by the translators of the Authorized version of
Scripture. This use has been retained in most cases in the Revised
Version.
Thus the literal sense [of gospel] is the
"narrative of God," i. e., the life of Christ.
Skeat.
2. One of the four narratives of the life and
death of Jesus Christ, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and
John.
3. A selection from one of the gospels, for
use in a religious service; as, the gospel for the
day.
4. Any system of religious doctrine;
sometimes, any system of political doctrine or social philosophy; as,
this political gospel. Burke.
5. Anything propounded or accepted as
infallibly true; as, they took his words for gospel.
[Colloq.]
If any one thinks this expression hyperbolical, I
shall only ask him to read Œdipus, instead of taking the
traditional witticisms about Lee for gospel.
Saintsbury.
Gos"pel, a. Accordant with, or
relating to, the gospel; evangelical; as, gospel
righteousness. Bp. Warburton.
Gos"pel, v. t. To instruct in the
gospel. [Obs.] Shak.
