Where does “gospel” come from?
Gospel comes from Middle English gospel, from Old English godspell, combining Old English gōd with Old English spel, ultimately from Proto-Germanic gōdaz and Proto-Indo-European gʰedʰ-.
gospel (English): The first section of the Christian New Testament...
Definitions
- The first section of the Christian New Testament...
Ancestry of “gospel”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | gospel | A gospel one of four books recounting Jesus' life in the Christian biblical canon |
| 2 | Old English | gōdspell | gospel |
| 3 | Ecclesiastical Latin | evangelium | — |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | εὐαγγέλιον | a reward for good news; good news; gospel |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | εὐάγγελος | bringing good news |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀγγέλλω | to carry, deliver, pass on, relay (a message, information, news, a command, instructions); to announce, report |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἄγγελος | a messenger; one that announces; angel, heavenly... |
| 8 | Old Norse | engill | angel |
| 9 | Old Saxon | engil | angel |
| 10 | Proto-West Germanic | angil | angel |
| 11 | Latin | angelus | angel; messenger |