The Gospel According to the Gospelsنموونە

What is the Gospel?

What would you say if someone asked you: ‘What is the Gospel?’ Can you explain the Gospel in a few words or a sentence? Or do you need paragraphs, essays or encyclopedias? Instead of saying ‘the Gospel,' can we just say ‘Jesus’? Is the Gospel a book or good news or beyond description? I was thinking about what the Gospel of Jesus Christ actually is and how to express it. To do that, I spoke with New Testament experts for a podcast series called, ‘The Gospel According to The Gospels’. Across six episodes and using the four Gospels as our main boundary markers, we discussed similarities, differences, emphases and impacts of the Gospel (‘good news’) of Jesus.

Across this week’s devotions, we’ll dip into each episode to taste what the Gospel is. My first conversation was with Dr. Ali Robinson, a lecturer of New Testament Studies at United Theological College, Sydney. Ali and I spoke about what ‘the gospel’ meant before and after Jesus. Discussing the ancient Greek and Roman usage of ‘the gospel,' Ali also pointed to passages in Isaiah (such as 52:7). These references to ‘good news’ point forward to God rescuing, redeeming, and restoring His people – and of the whole world seeing this light of salvation.

Ali acknowledged that as ‘the Gospel’ was forever changed by its association with Jesus, we still have not yet arrived at all the good news of the Good News. She wants us to be passionate about what God is doing – and will do – for our world through what He has promised in Jesus.

Written by BEN MCEACHEN