Gospel | Definition, History, & Facts - Encyclopedia Britannica

Gospel, any of four biblical narratives covering the life and death of Jesus Christ. Written, according to tradition, respectively by St. Matthew, St. Mark, ... Gospel TableofContents Gospel Introduction FastFacts RelatedContent Media Images More MoreArticlesOnThisTopic Contributors ArticleHistory Home Philosophy&Religion Scriptures Gospel NewTestament Actions Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gospel-New-Testament GiveFeedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites TheCatholicEncyclopedia-GospelandGospels Print Cite verifiedCite Whileeveryefforthasbeenmadetofollowcitationstylerules,theremaybesomediscrepancies. Pleaserefertotheappropriatestylemanualorothersourcesifyouhaveanyquestions. SelectCitationStyle MLA APA ChicagoManualofStyle CopyCitation Share Share Sharetosocialmedia Facebook Twitter URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Gospel-New-Testament Feedback ExternalWebsites Feedback Corrections?Updates?Omissions?Letusknowifyouhavesuggestionstoimprovethisarticle(requireslogin). FeedbackType Selectatype(Required) FactualCorrection Spelling/GrammarCorrection LinkCorrection AdditionalInformation Other YourFeedback SubmitFeedback Thankyouforyourfeedback Oureditorswillreviewwhatyou’vesubmittedanddeterminewhethertorevisethearticle. JoinBritannica'sPublishingPartnerProgramandourcommunityofexpertstogainaglobalaudienceforyourwork! ExternalWebsites TheCatholicEncyclopedia-GospelandGospels By TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannica • EditHistory TableofContents ClementineVulgateGospel,anyoffourbiblicalnarrativescoveringthelifeanddeathofJesusChrist.Written,accordingtotradition,respectivelybySt.Matthew,St.Mark,St.Luke,andSt.John(thefourevangelists),theyareplacedatthebeginningoftheNewTestamentandmakeupabouthalfthetotaltext.ThewordgospelisderivedfromtheAnglo-Saxontermgod-spell,meaning“goodstory,”arenderingoftheLatinevangeliumandtheGreekeuangelion,meaning“goodnews”or“goodtelling.”Sincethelate18thcenturythefirstthreehavebeencalledtheSynopticGospels,becausethetexts,setsidebyside,showasimilartreatmentofthelifeanddeathofJesusChrist.SeealsoGospelAccordingtoMatthew;GospelAccordingtoMark;GospelAccordingtoLuke;andGospelAccordingtoJohn. ThetraditionsofJesus’earthlyministryandPassionwererememberedandthenwrittenintheGospelaccounts.Theywerewrittenfromthepost-ResurrectionperspectiveandcontainanextensiveandcommonPassionnarrativeastheydealwiththeearthlyministryofJesusfromhindsight.Itisalsotobenotedthat,intheevangelists’accounts,theirtheologicalpresuppositionsandthesituationsoftheiraddresseesmoldedtheformationofthefourcanonicalGospels,whichwerewrittenafterthelettersofSt.Paul.TheprimaryaffirmationsofChristianity—ofJesusastheChrist,hismessageofthekingdom,andhisResurrection—precededtheevangelists’accounts,andsomeoftheseaffirmationswereextrapolatedbackward(muchastheExoduseventcentralintheOldTestamentwasextrapolatedbackwardandwasthetheologicalpresuppositionforthepatriarchalnarrativesinGenesis).Thesestorieswereshapedbythepurposefortheirtelling:toinspirebelief.TheircreedalbeginningwasexpandedwithmaterialaboutthelifeandteachingsofJesus,whichareverenceforandapreoccupationwiththeholyfigureofJesusdemandedoutoflovingcuriosityabouthisearthlyministryandlife. ReadMoreonThisTopic Jesus:SourcesforthelifeofJesus …messageofJesusaretheGospelsoftheNewTestament,theearliestofwhichwasMark(written60–80ce),... TheEditorsofEncyclopaediaBritannicaThisarticlewasmostrecentlyrevisedandupdatedbyMelissaPetruzzello.