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