Mark 1:15 and Genesis 15:1 : On the Great Confusion About Gospel and Reward

I have stated many times that the original meaning of the Greek word euaggelion ('euangelion') was reward for bringing glad tidings. Yes, the literal meaning of the word is "good news," but there was more to it than that. Because the good news was immediately efficacious; i.e., it effectively made its change right then and right there in the announcement, although more may be coming in the future. With the news . . . was what it was about. Because the messenger was as his sender, the gift or reward to him was honoring to the one who sent. I read this stuff, and I feel the recipients' sense of unity and oneness with the sender.

Here is a 5 1/2 page summary of euangelion from Wenstrom.org that could easily have been a twenty dollar book. The writer did an excellent job of collecting information.

We tell people to repent and believe in the gospel. That is exactly what Eashoa told them at the beginning of his ministry. Er, uh, wait a minute; at the beginning of his ministry? There wasn't any gospel to believe in yet, was there? Well, there was this kind of unity and oneness thing with Allaha and them. In Genesis 15:1 in the KJV, the Milta states: "I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." How is the Milta our reward? An assumed end, He is building His own fulfillment: us! We become Him, the Allaha! Greatly desired and beloved of Allaha, the Milta is our restorer (to His likeness), and our compensation is great indeed (Alexander). Eashoa--the Milta--was saying that the time given in Daniel 9 was about completed, and He was about to open the doors to the reward He is through the acts of Daniel 9:24, "so as the obligations may be concluded and the sins may be curtailed, so that the abominations shall be abandoned, and that they may usher in the eternal righteousness, such as the vision and the prophesies* may be fulfilled, and to the Anointed One we may commit our blessings" (Alexander).

One last thing: repent means to radically change one's thoughts or worldview, and to believe the Gospel means to assume that the reward and the Kingdom are presently existent. So, change your thoughts and assume that the Kingdom is, NOW.