The word "gospel" comes from the Old English, god+spell, or "good" "word" (think of the word, "spelling"). Now you know where they got the title for the 70's musical, "Godspell."
There are many different ways of expressing the good news. The four main books that record the story of Jesus in the Bible, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, are all called "Gospels," as in "The Gospel according to ..." What each of these Gsopel writers say about the "gospel" is helpful.
Matthew
Matthew doesn't specifically say what he is writing. He starts his book off with a geneology to show the legitimate connection between "Jesus the Messiah," Abraham and King David. Jesus is the one of whom the Jewish people are waiting.
Mark
Mark starts his gospel by specifically stating it is a gospel, or "good words (news)."
"Here begins the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God." (New Living Translation)
Luke
Luke is probably writing to a benefactor and/or friend, "Theophilus" ("Lover of God"). Luke gives his reason for writing at the beginning.
"Most honorable Theophilus:
Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fullfillment of his promises. Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summmary for you, to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught." (NLT)
John
With John, what is most interesting is how he ends his gospel.
"This is that disciple who saw these events and recorded them here. And we all know that his account of these things is accurate. And I suppose that if all the other things Jesus did were written down, the whole world could not contain the books." (NLT)
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