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• gospel
  gospel

  noun

  the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.
• Gospel
  Gospel

  noun

  any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

gospel

American  

[gos-puhl] / ˈgɒs pəl /

noun

• gospels
  plural

1. the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation.

2. the story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

3. (usually initial capital letter) any of these four books.

4. something regarded as true and implicitly believed.

   to take his report for gospel.

5. a doctrine regarded as of prime importance.

   political gospel.

6. glad tidings, especially concerning salvation and the kingdom of God as announced to the world by Christ.

7. (often initial capital letter) an extract from one of the four Gospels, forming part of the Eucharistic service in certain churches.

8. gospel music.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or proclaiming the gospel or its teachings.

   a gospel preacher.

2. in accordance with the gospel; evangelical.

3. of or relating to gospel music.

   a gospel singer.

Gospel ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

1. any of the first four books of the New Testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

2. a reading from one of these in a religious service

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gospel ² British  

/ ˈɡɒspəl /

noun

1. Also called: gospel truth. an unquestionable truth

   to take someone's word as gospel

2. a doctrine maintained to be of great importance

3. Black religious music originating in the churches of the Southern states of the United States

4. the message or doctrine of a religious teacher

5. 1. the story of Christ's life and teachings as narrated in the Gospels

   2. the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ

   3. ( as modifier )

      the gospel story

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gospel Cultural  

1. The “good news” of salvation (see also salvation) (see Gospels). Certain styles of religious music are also called “gospel.” (See spirituals (see also spirituals).)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nongospel
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• gospels
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gospel

First recorded before 950; Middle English go(d)spell, Old English gōdspell ( see good, spell ²); translation of Greek euangélion “good news” ( see evangel ¹)

Explanation

Follow advice like gospel and you're following it as though it was the final word or authority on the matter. The word gospel comes from the Old English god meaning "good" and spel meaning "news, a story." In Christianity, the term "good news" refers to the story of Jesus Christ's birth, death, and resurrection. Gospel music is heard in church and sung by a gospel choir. Outside of its application to religion, the word gospel is also used to describe an idea or rule that's accepted as undoubtedly true.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gospel Gospel gospels

There was a bit of that gospel in the note that Flores, program director at Music Heals, sent Densmore after his visit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

On long-distance buses, pastors can often be seen - and heard - preaching the gospel.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

It has also rejected comparisons to the prosperity gospel, the Christian theological movement that connects faith with material or financial rewards.

From Salon ● Sep. 26, 2026

Nearly four decades later, Jane still recites his mantras like gospel: Don’t sell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026

Like any second she was going to sing gospel.

From "Towers Falling" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Our parish lived and practiced American Catholicism’s long tradition of welcoming the stranger, the outcast, the refugee — following the example and words of the Gospel we read every Sunday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

“And those three things, in my reading of the Gospel, are diametrically opposed to the teachings of Jesus.”

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

The military denied the allegations and issued a detailed defense, saying the systems, code-named Lavender and The Gospel, “are merely tools” for intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

"If anyone wishes to criticise me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully," he said.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

I’ve worshiped with thousands of other Christians in the Yoido Full Gospel Church, the world’s largest Christian congregation, in Seoul, Korea.

From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore

It was Tyndale’s personal encounter with the gospels that caused him to risk everything—exile, shame, poverty, imprisonment—to put the Bible into the hands of ordinary people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 26, 2026

Pope Leo then took the book of the gospels to bless the people.

From BBC ● May 18, 2025

Pagels is conversant with every version of the gospels — even the most obscure — and wades through them with forensic thoroughness.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 2025

She got some money from her college and entered into an obscure essay contest, writing about the Greek text of one of the gospels.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 22, 2023

I went back to my cell with a new resolve: the next time I was permitted a shower I would take with me three of my gospels.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• dogma
• faith
• truth