GOSPEL, the history of the life, actions, death,
resurrection, ascension, and doctrine of Jesus Christ.—
The word is Saxon, and of the same import with the
Latin term evangelium, which signifies "good tidings,"
or "good news."
This history is contained in the writings of St Mat-
thew, St Mark, St Luke, and St John; who from
thence are called evangelists. The Christian church
never acknowledged any more than these four gospels
as canonical; notwithstanding which, several apocryphal
gospels are handed down to us, and others are entirely
lost.