noun

1. 1. the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles; specif., the Christian doctrine of the redemption of man through Jesus as Christ
   2. the history of the life and teachings of Jesus
2. 1. any of the first four books of the New Testament
   2. an excerpt from any of these books read in a religious service
3. anything proclaimed or accepted as the absolute truth
   also gospel truth
4. any doctrine or rule widely or ardently maintained
5. an evangelistic Protestant religious music, esp. a kind that evolved from spirituals and the black churches in the U.S.; also, a melismatic singing style characteristic of black gospel, often employing antiphonal patterns

Etymology: ME godspell, gospel (with assimilated -d-) < OE gōdspel, orig., good story, good news: intended as transl. of LL(Ec) evangelium (see evangel), tidings, but later by shortening of o it became gŏdspel as if < god, God + spel, story

adjective