εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion)

The noun euangelion literally means "good news" or a reward for bringing it. In classical Greek, it often referred to a prize given to a messenger who brought welcome information, or a thank-offering made in response to such news. The Septuagint used the word to translate Hebrew terms for glad tidings, setting a precedent for its religious use.

In the New Testament, the term shifts from a reward to the message itself: the proclamation of God’s kingdom and salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul frequently pairs it with a genitive to specify the content, such as "the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1) or "the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:19). This usage appears across his letters and in Mark’s opening verse, where Jesus begins preaching this glad tidings (Mark 1:14-15).

The word carries significant weight because it frames the Christian message as a public announcement rather than a private opinion. By adopting a term associated with imperial decrees or royal announcements, early Christians claimed that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection were the most important news of all. This concrete historical claim distinguishes it from vague spiritual ideas.