From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gospel \Gos"pel\, n. [OE. gospel, godspel, AS. godspell; god God
+ spell story, tale. See {God}, and {Spell}, v.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Glad tidings; especially, the good news concerning Christ,
the Kingdom of God, and salvation.
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And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their
synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom.
--Matt. iv.
23.
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The steadfast belief of the promises of the gospel.
--Bentley.
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Note: It is probable that gospel is from. OE. godspel, God
story, the narrative concerning God; but it was early
confused with god spell, good story, good tidings, and
was so used by the translators of the Authorized
version of Scripture. This use has been retained in
most cases in the Revised Version.
[1913 Webster]
Thus the literal sense [of gospel] is the
"narrative of God," i. e., the life of Christ.
--Skeat.
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2. One of the four narratives of the life and death of Jesus
Christ, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
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3. A selection from one of the gospels, for use in a
religious service; as, the gospel for the day.
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4. Any system of religious doctrine; sometimes, any system of
political doctrine or social philosophy; as, this
political gospel. --Burke.
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5. Anything propounded or accepted as infallibly true; as,
they took his words for gospel. [Colloq.]
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If any one thinks this expression hyperbolical, I
shall only ask him to read [OE]dipus, instead of
taking the traditional witticisms about Lee for
gospel. --Saintsbury.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gospel \Gos"pel\, a.
Accordant with, or relating to, the gospel; evangelical; as,
gospel righteousness. --Bp. Warburton.
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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Gospel \Gos"pel\, v. t.
To instruct in the gospel. [Obs.] --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Gospel
n 1: the four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke,
and John) that tell the story of Christ's life and
teachings [syn: {Gospel}, {Gospels}, {evangel}]
2: an unquestionable truth; "his word was gospel" [syn:
{gospel}, {gospel truth}]
3: 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) [syn:
{gospel}, {gospel singing}]
4: the written body of teachings of a religious group that are
generally accepted by that group [syn: {religious doctrine},
{church doctrine}, {gospel}, {creed}]
5: a doctrine that is believed to be of great importance;
"Newton's writings were gospel for those who followed"
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