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What is the gospel? (the "good news", Christ died, was buried, rose)

Faith

Short answer

The word 'gospel' simply means 'good news.' Its clearest one-paragraph definition is Paul's summary of what he preached: Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:3; 1 Corinthians 15:4), a message he calls 'of first importance' (1 Corinthians 15:3).

Jesus began His ministry announcing the 'gospel of the kingdom of God', that God's reign was breaking in and people should repent and believe (Mark 1:14; Mark 1:15).

Question

What is the gospel? (the "good news" of the Bible, the core Christian message)

Analysis

The oldest summary of the message

1 Corinthians 15:3–1 Corinthians 15:5 is widely regarded as an early creed Paul received and passed on: Christ died for our sins, was buried (proving He was truly dead), was raised on the third day (proving death was defeated), and appeared to many witnesses. Paul stakes everything on the resurrection being real: if Christ was not raised, he says, the preaching and the faith are empty (1 Corinthians 15:14; 1 Corinthians 15:17). So the gospel is first a set of historical events about Jesus, not primarily advice or moral instruction.

Why it is 'good news'

The good news answers a problem the Bible has already named: 'all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God' (Romans 3:23), and sin earns death (Romans 6:23). The gospel is that God Himself acted to rescue: 'God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us' (BSB, Romans 5:8). Salvation is therefore a gift, 'by grace you have been saved through faith… not by works, so that no one can boast' (BSB, Ephesians 2:8; Ephesians 2:9), received by trusting Christ, not by earning God's favor (Romans 6:23, second half). The prophets pictured this long before: the herald who announces peace and salvation brings 'good news' (Isaiah 52:7).

The response and the reach

The gospel calls for repentance and faith (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21) and confessing Jesus as the risen Lord (Romans 10:9). It is meant for all nations: Jesus sent His followers to carry it everywhere (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15), and Peter declares 'there is salvation in no one else' (Acts 4:12). Jesus also framed the same message as the arriving kingdom of God (Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43), the King has come, and His death and resurrection open the door in.

Sources, trace every one

Every cited verse, in full. Tap any reference to open it in the reader.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:3bsb

    For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

  • 1 Corinthians 15:4bsb

    that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

  • 1 Corinthians 15:5bsb

    and that He appeared to Cephas and then to the Twelve.

  • Romans 5:8bsb

    But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

  • Romans 1:16bsb

    I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Greek.

  • Mark 1:15bsb

    “The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”

  • Acts 16:31bsb

    They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your household.”

  • Ephesians 2:8bsb

    For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,

  • Ephesians 2:9bsb

    not by works, so that no one can boast.

  • Mark 1:14bsb

    After the arrest of John, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:14bsb

    And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.

  • 1 Corinthians 15:17bsb

    And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

  • Romans 3:23bsb

    for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

  • Romans 6:23bsb

    For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

  • Isaiah 52:7bsb

    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

  • Acts 20:21bsb

    testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

On contested questions we show every major view, attributed and cited, and pick no winner. Answers are synthesized from primary sources, truth you can trace, not opinion.

What is the gospel? (the "good news" — Christ died, was buried, rose) · Bubble Bible