The word ‘Gospel’ is, as everyone on this blog will know, is a translation of the New Testament Koine Greek word euangélion (εὐαγγέλιον).   ** you do not have permission to see this link **

This Koine Greek word was used in Hellenic culture to mean ‘tidings’ or ‘news’ and most often used in the context of the ‘good variety’ usually good news that merited a reward, as was customary in ancient times.  It can be found for example in this context in Homer and other Greek writers outside the New Testament.  The related Koine Greek word euangelizō, also found in the New testament and usually translated as ‘preach’, has a Latin equivalent Evangelizo, from which we get the modern English words, ‘Evangelize & Evangelism’ ** you do not have permission to see this link **

One further point on the etymology, before I speculate on what the good news actually was.  Jesus probably spoke in Aramaic, so when he used the word we translate from the Greek NT passages as ‘Gospel’ (eg Mar 13:10: And the gospel must first be published among all nations), he was probably using the Aramaic word ‘B’sartha’ , which is equivalent to the Hebrew word ‘Besowrah’ ** you do not have permission to see this link ** .

There are some other interesting aspects to this Aramaic word which I won’t get into now, but it basically meant exactly the same as the Greek word euangélion.

So what was originally meant by Jesus and his disciples when they used the term the good news or the good tidings?  We never tire of hearing from evangelicals (whom I count myself among) that the Gospel nothing but the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, the prophesied spotless Lamb of God of Isaiah 53, who died to pay the price of our sins.  Indeed that is very much how Paul uses the term Gospel (eg  1Co 15:1-3  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures).

But to say that the term ‘Gospel’ means nothing but the penal substitutionary atonement, is an example of the “fallacy of nothing buttery” (a humorous term  that I have borrowed from modern philosophy of mind).   For a start, it is quite clear from the synoptic Gospels that Jesus did not openly preach about his impending death and its purpose.  Indeed, the so-called “Messianic Secret Motives” in all 3 synoptic Gospels indicate that that this meaning or purpose of his life and death was initially a secret, that was only revealed a long way into his preaching (Mar 8:31–33; Luk 9:21, 22 ) and according to Matthew, only revealed after Peter recognized that Jesus was the Messiah (Mat 16:21: From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day).

Despite this, it is clearly stated on that Jesus openly preached the Gospel before this secret was revealed: (eg Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel [G2098] of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people; Mat 9:35:  And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel [G2098] of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people).

Therefore, I think that the Gospel includes a number of other things apart from the atonement.  For a start, I think the Gospel includes the healings that Jesus and his followers did.   Most importantly of all, I think it includes the message that The Kingdom of God was within them and around them – in other words that God was accessible to everybody, not just to the high priest once a year and not just to the Jews, but to all people of all nations and that God was ‘Our Father’ not just Jesus’s father and that all we need to do, to connect with God, is to speak to him privately in honesty and humility and in a spirit of repentance.   In fact, the poorer and more humble you were the closer you were to this Kingdom of God that would eventually come in its fullness on earth in some future time.  This is, I think, what the beatitudes are all about and are thus arguably the main original meaning that Jesus was implying when he used the word Gospel (probably the Aramaic word ‘B’sartha’):  Mat 5:3:  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven; Mat 5:4: Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted; Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth;  Mat 5:8: Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Indeed, this is what the Lord’s prayer is all about. (Mat 6:6-9  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.  Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name……)

My conclusion is that the main meaning of the word ‘Gospel’ (probably the Aramaic ‘B’sartha’) , as used by Jesus of Nazareth, was the ‘accessibility’ of God the Father to everyone on the planet and the blessings that would flow from accessing God.

I rest my case. 

Maybe someone has said something similar beforehand?….