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Sent: October 7, 2002 8:22 AM
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Subject: HBS: Q & A About the Biblical Gospel

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Questions & Answers About the Biblical Gospel
Galatians 1:6-9

by Elder John Kohler

Q.  What is the meaning of the word gospel?

A.  The English noun gospel is derived from the Greek noun euangelion, which means "good message, glad tidings." 
  
Q.  How often does the word gospel appear in the Bible?

A.  The English word gospel does not appear at all in the Old Testament.  It appears a total of 104 times in the New Testament, as follows:

Matthew - 5 times I Timothy - 1 time
Mark - 8 times      II Timothy - 3 times
Luke - 4 times         Titus - 0 times
John - 0 times         Philemon - 1 time
Acts - 6 times         Hebrews - 1 time
Romans - 13 times         James - 0 times
I Corinthians - 13 times   I Peter - 4 times
II Corinthians - 9 times II Peter - 0 times
Galatians - 12 times   I John - 0 times
Ephesians - 4 times II John - 0 times
Philippians - 9 times III John - 0 times
Colossians - 2 times     Jude - 0 times
I Thessalonians - 6 times     Revelation - 1 time
II Thessalonians - 2 times
============================================
Paul’s Writings - 75 times Matthew’s Writings - 5 times
Luke’s Writings - 10 times Peter’s Writings - 4 times
Mark’s Writings - 8 times John’s Writings - 1 time
      ============================================

Q.  What descriptive adjectives are used in connection with the English word gospel?

A.  The following phrases are used:

~ It is simply called the gospel in nearly sixty verses.

~ It is called the gospel of Christ in nine verses (Rom. 1:16; 15:19,29; I Cor. 9:12; II Cor. 9:13; 10:14; Gal. 1:7; Phil. 1:27; I Thes. 3:2).

~ It is called the gospel of God in seven verses (Rom. 1:1; 15:16; II Cor. 11:7; I Thes. 2:2,8-9; I Pet. 4:17).

~ It is called the gospel of the kingdom in four verses (Mat. 4:23; 9:35; 24:14; Mk. 1:14).

~ It is called my gospel in three verses (Rom. 2:16; 16:25; II Tim. 2:8).

~ It is called our gospel in three verses (II Cor. 4:3; I Thes. 1:5; II Thes. 2:14).

~ It is called the gospel of peace in two verses (Rom. 10:15; Eph. 6:15).

~ It is called the gospel of Jesus Christ in one verse (Mk. 1:1).

~ It is called the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in one verse (II Thes. 1:8).

~ It is called the gospel of His Son in one verse (Rom. 1:9).

~ It is called Christ’s gospel in one verse (II Cor. 2:12).

~ It is called the glorious gospel of Christ in one verse (II Cor. 4:4).

~ It is called the gospel of the circumcision and the gospel of the uncircumcision in one verse (Gal. 2:7).

~ It is called the gospel of your salvation in one verse (Eph. 1:13).

~ It is called the gospel of the grace of God in one verse (Acts 20:24).

~ It is called the glorious gospel of the blessed God in one verse (I Tim. 1:11).

~ It is called the everlasting gospel in one verse (Rev. 14:6).

~ It is contrasted with another gospel in two verses (II Cor. 11:4; Gal. 1:6).

Q.  What verbs or actions are associated with the English word gospel?

A.  The following verbs or actions are so associated:

~ The gospel is a message that is preached (41 verses) (Mat. 4:23; 9:35; 11:5; 24:14; 26:13; Mk. 1:14; 14:9; 16:15; Lk. 4:18; 7:22; 9:6; 20:1; Acts 8:25; 14:7,21; 16:10; Rom. 1:15; 10:15; 15:19-20; I Cor. 1:17; 9:14,16,18; 15:1; II Cor. 2:12; 10:14,16; 11:4,7; Gal. 1:8-9,11; 3:8; 4:13; I Thes. 2:9; Heb. 4:2; I Pet. 1:12,25; 4:6; Rev. 14:6).

~ The gospel is a message that is published (Mk. 13:10).

~ The gospel is a message that is testified (Acts 20:24).

~ The gospel is a message that is ministered (Rom. 15:16).

~ The gospel is a message that is declared (I Cor. 15:1).

~ The gospel is a message that is communicated (Gal. 2:2).

~ The gospel is a message that is spoken (I Thes. 2:2).

~ The gospel is a message that is heard (Acts 15:7).

~ The gospel is a message that is believed (Mk. 1:15; 16:15-16; Acts 15:7).

~ The gospel is a message that is obeyed (Rom. 10:16; II Thes. 1:8; I Pet. 4:17).

~ The gospel is a message that is hindered (I Cor. 9:12).

~ The gospel is a message that is hidden (II Cor. 4:3).

~ The gospel is a message that is professed through subjection (II Cor. 9:13).

~ The gospel is a message that is perverted (Gal. 1:7).

~ The gospel is a message that is opposed (I Thes. 2:2).

~ The gospel is a message that illuminates (II Tim. 1:10).

No precise, concise definition of the gospel is given in the Holy Bible.  Consequently, it is necessary to carefully examine the usage of this term in each passage where it appears, then to harmonize and systematize these findings, in order to arrive at a working definition of the gospel.  At its heart, the gospel may be defined as follows:

The Biblical gospel is the good message or glad tidings of salvation by God’s grace alone (sola gratia) and justification before God by faith alone (sola fide) in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (solus Christus).

Genuine, God-given, saving faith is accompanied by real repentance toward God and affects the intellect, emotions, and will.  It is never alone, but it is always followed by Holy Spirit-wrought fruit, good works, and other evidences of salvation.

The HISTORIC BAPTIST SYMPOSIUM is a ministry of Morris Fork Baptist Church, Route 1 Box 117, Meadow Bridge, WV 25976.


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