*gospel*

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Matt. iv. 23. [ 1913 Webster ]

The steadfast belief of the promises of the gospel. Bentley. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One of the four narratives of the life and death of Jesus Christ, written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A selection from one of the gospels, for use in a religious service; as, the gospel for the day. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any system of religious doctrine; sometimes, any system of political doctrine or social philosophy; as, this political gospel. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Anything propounded or accepted as infallibly true; as, they took his words for gospel. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

If any one thinks this expression hyperbolical, I shall only ask him to read Œdipus, instead of taking the traditional witticisms about Lee for gospel. Saintsbury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Accordant with, or relating to, the gospel; evangelical; as, gospel righteousness. Bp. Warburton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To instruct in the gospel. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. godspellere. ] [ Written also gospeller. ] 1. One of the four evangelists. Rom. of R. [ 1913 Webster ]

Mark the gospeler was the ghostly son of Peter in baptism. Wyclif. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A follower of Wyclif, the first English religious reformer; hence, a Puritan. [ Obs. ] Latimer. [ 1913 Webster ]

The persecution was carried on against the gospelers with much fierceness by those of the Roman persuasion. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A priest or deacon who reads the gospel at the altar during the communion service. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Archbishop of York was the celebrant, the epistoler being the dean, and the gospeler the Bishop of Sydney. Pall Mall Gazette. [ 1913 Webster ]