Gospel

The term gospel comes from Old English gōdspell, meaning "good news" or "glad tidings," ultimately from Proto-Germanic roots; in Greek the term is euangelion, Latin evangelium. In Christian usage, gospel denotes the message concerning Jesus Christ and the salvation offered through his life, death, and resurrection.

In the New Testament, the word also names four books—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—that recount the life and teachings of Jesus. They are called the canonical gospels, though they are not formal biographies; each presents a distinct perspective, but they share central themes: Jesus as the Messiah, the proclamation of the kingdom of God, the significance of his crucifixion, and the announcement of resurrection.

The term is also used for the broader Christian movement and for a genre of sacred music known as gospel music, rooted in African American Christian communities. In addition, "gospel" may refer to non-canonical early Christian writings sometimes called apocryphal gospels (e.g., Gospel of Thomas), though these are not part of the New Testament. Outside Christianity, "gospel" can mean any revelation or fundamental truth presented as good news.

Gospel studies examine historical context, authorship, and literary relationships among the gospels, as well as their influence on theology, worship, and art.