The Word Translated as "Gospel" ALSO Meant Reward Or Fee Given To Bearer Of Good Tidings: Second Attempt

In the Bible, at the end of a season--almost any season--there is a reward. This is beyond but probably includes the principle of seedtime and harvest. The reward at the end of the season is a thing God does. This rewarding by God is part of a recurring pattern in the scriptures. E.g, in Daniel chapter 1, Daniel strives to stay kosher, and it is given to him to stand before King Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter 2, Daniel is given high position, gifts, great authority and headship. In Daniel 3, Shidrach, Mishach, and Abednego's stature in Babylon was raised by the king. In Daniel 4, Daniel's God is exalted by the king. And so it goes, time after time, season after season, throughout the Bible: There is innocence, there is a challenge, there is trouble, there is affliction, the saints stick stay dutiful, noble, long suffering, and eventually they receive a reward.

I bring this up because the original, first meaning of the Greek word euangelion (euaggelion) was "reward given to bearer of glad tidings." Its basic concept was a reward, a reward given for delivering a message of glad tidings. Euangelion did not come to mean the message of glad tiding itself until much later. There is only one known example of euaggelion actually meaning the glad tiding itself before the New Testament was written. Granted, a) there may be other pre-NT instances yet to be found; b) the Jews spoke Aramaic, not Greek; and c) the idea of euangelion meaning the message itself was in vogue at the time of the New Testament. But still, the Greek word euangelion and its contemporary Aramaic and Hebrew equivalents HAD DUAL MEANINGS: the reward given for proclaiming or presenting good news, and the good news itself. WHEN USED, THE WORD COULD MEAN EITHER.

When I open my Strong's Concordance's Greek dictionary, my Analytical Greek Lexicon (I gave my big BAG to a local church), or any of my study bibles, the only definition I find for euangelion is "Gospel, good news, glad tidings." Where is euangelion as a reward given for good tidings mentioned in the New Testament? That definition is only found in the stronger, more thorough lexicons. I venture to guess that very few Christians even know it exists.

So where is the first definition of euangelion used in the New Testament? Nowhere? Are you sure? When Jesus came preaching in Mark 1:15, He said, "The Season is finished, and the Kingdom of God has arrived. Repent, and believe the Gospel." What Gospel? This was like His first day on the job--there was no Gospel or kerygma (proclamation) about Him to be believed as yet. But there was the promise of a reward (see Daniel chapter 9's seventy weeks of years) to be given at the end of the Season of Grace. Jesus proclaiming "The Season is finished, and the Kingdom of God has arrived. REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE REWARD GIVEN TO THE BEARER OF GOOD TIDINGS" would make a lot of sense then, wouldn't it?

For there is a reward. Jesus Christ lived His life, ministered and even went through the crucifixion trusting for it. He healed people throughout His ministry and by His sacrifice received US!! Paul fought the good fight of faith trusting in it. THE WORD EUANGELION HAS DUAL MEANINGS, TWO OF THEM: THE REWARD FOR GOOD TIDINGS, AND GOOD TIDINGS. Where in the New Testament use of the word did it mean A REWARD FOR GOOD TIDINGS instead of GOOD TIDINGS?

Now, I have caught myself. I have supposed that the bearer of good tidings received a reward--euangelion--from those who received the tidings. Who receives them in the New Testament? We do. Who are we? God dreaming. Who pays the fee or reward to the deliverer of good tidings? God does. What does God have to give?