What does "gospel" mean?
The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection of Jesus.
Gospel
/ˈɡɒspəl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection of Jesus.
- Grammar: gospel is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: evangel, acts, agnus dei, alleluia.
- Useful contrasts: apocryphal gospel, disputed, doubted.
- Usage evidence: They spread the Gospel all over the world.
How to use "gospel"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "gospel" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "gospel" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "gospel" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "gospel" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The first section of the Christian New Testament scripture, comprising the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, concerned with the birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection of Jesus. countable, uncountable
- 2 Alternative form of gospel. alt-of, alternative
- 3 a doctrine that is believed to be of great importance wordnet
- 4 An account of those aspects of Jesus' life, generally written during the first several centuries of the Common Era. countable, uncountable
- 5 the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that tell the story of Christ's life and teachings wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 The teaching of Divine grace as distinguished from the Law or Divine commandments. countable, uncountable
- 7 an unquestionable truth wordnet
- 8 A message expected to have positive reception or effect, one promoted as offering important (or even infallible) guiding principles. countable, uncountable
"Spreading the gospel of dental hygiene in Vermont"
- 9 the written body of teachings of a religious group that are generally accepted by that group wordnet
- 10 That which is absolutely authoritative (definitive). uncountable
"took her words for gospel"
- 11 folk music consisting of a genre of a cappella music originating with Black slaves in the United States and featuring call and response; influential on the development of other genres of popular music (especially soul) wordnet
- 12 Gospel music. uncountable
Verb
- 1 To instruct in, declare, or communicate the gospel; to evangelise. transitive
"Are you so gospelled, to pray for this good man and for his issue, whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave and beggared yours forever?"
Example
"They spread the Gospel all over the world."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "gospel"?
Common synonyms include: evangel, acts, agnus dei, alleluia, anamnesis, anthem.
How do you use "gospel" in a sentence?
They spread the Gospel all over the world.
How do you pronounce "gospel"?
Pronounced /ˈɡɒspəl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English gospel, gospell, godspel, godspell, goddspell, from Old English godspell (“gospel”), corresponding to God + spell (“talk, tale, story”), literally “the message of God”, believed to be an alteration of earlier *gōdspell (literally “good news”), used to translate ecclesiastical Latin bona annūntiātiō, itself a translation of Ecclesiastical Latin ēvangelium / Ancient Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion, “evangel”, literally “good news”) (English evangel). Compare Old Saxon gōdspel and godspell (“gospel”), Old High German and Middle High German gotspel (“gospel”), Icelandic guðspjall (“gospel”), and the modern calque Malayalam സുവിശേഷം (suviśēṣaṁ).
Etymology 2
From Middle English gospellen, from Old English godspellian (“to preach the gospel, evangelise”), from the noun (see above).