What is 'the good news' in the Bible?
The 'good news' (Greek euangelion, English 'gospel') is the announcement that Jesus — God's promised King — has died for sins, risen from the dead, and now offers forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who trusts him.
Before it was a four-letter word in English, the 'gospel' was a piece of breaking news. In the Roman world, a euangelion was the announcement of something publicly important — a battle won, a new emperor on the throne. The New Testament writers picked up the word and applied it to Jesus.
Paul gives the shortest summary: 'Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures' (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). The cross deals with our guilt; the empty tomb deals with our death.
The good news is good because it does not start with what we must do, but with what God has already done. It is news, not advice. The response it calls for is trust: turning from going our own way (repentance) and resting our hope on Jesus (faith). Everyone who does so is forgiven, adopted into God's family, and given a future no one can take away.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.