The word 'gospel' is used nowadays in many different ways. It is used as a noun such as, preach the gospel, or this gospel of the kingdom; it can be used as an adjective such as, gospel commission, or gospel truth, or gospel music. In most cases it has a religious connotation, but not always. Sometimes it's used to emphasize a conclusion such as, I tell you, that is the gospel truth. In all cases it is intended to represent a message of fundamental truth. Actually, the original spelling of gospel was "godspel" meaning god-story, and was used to describe or tell some aspect of the biblical story of the life of Christ.
The Bible translators have used the word 'gospel' to describe the story of Jesus as told by four New Testament writers. So we have the so-called Gospel of Matthew, the Gospel of Mark, the Gospel of Luke, and the Gospel of John. In fact, these four writers have been called the gospel writers, as distinguished from others such as Paul, who did not walk with Jesus as a disciple. While each of these writers told the same god-story, their accounts varied greatly because of different perspectives. Bible scholars have analyzed their writings, and they have concluded that Matthew presents Jesus from the perspective of, behold your King; Mark's grand theme is, behold My Servant; Luke's picture of Christ is, behold the Man; and John presents Christ as, behold your God. Together they present a composite picture of Jesus as the descendent and inheritor of David's throne, as the word made flesh who lived among us as a servant, as a real human being who was tempted in all ways as we are, and as the Word who was with God and who was God. The good news of salvation by faith in Jesus our redeemer and friend is called the gospel; this is the god-story that is to go to all the world as a witness to every nation and people.
The word gossip has a rather poor reputation today because it has come to refer to malicious or idle talk or untrue rumor. It is also used to describe a person who engages in such prattle. If you want to know the latest scoop of news, you can always find a person who is very willing to inform you, especially if it is shocking or of a derogatory nature. However, the word 'gossip' was originally "godsib" which meant god parent, god sibling, god child, or close friend. Originally then, a gossip was a person whom you could trust with personal problems or secrets, one who would be a confidant or counsellor, and one who would carry a positive message of encouragement According to the original meaning, then, we could say that the good news of salvation is to be spread by gossips, and this would be "the gospel according to gossips."
