The best source I have on hand for tracking this down is the 10-volume
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (often referred to as Kittel for it's primary editor) which has a 30-page article on
Euangleion and words from the same root.
The article (pages 707-737 in Volume II) starts with the comparable Old Testament Hebrew word, which is
Basar and notes that in the Old Testament it "has the general sense of 'proclaiming good news' (1 Kings 1:42), e.g. the birth of a son (Jeremiah 20:15)." Perhaps the most important Old Testament reference is Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.
which Luke chapter 4 gives as the appointed portion of scripture Jesus reads in the synagogue in Nazareth as he begins his ministry. That proclamation of "Good News" promised in Isaiah would have been very important to an early Christian understanding of
euangelion.
On page 714, the TDNT notes in Palestinian Judaism
basar "usually means 'to proclaim good news.'" And on the following page goes on to state, "It is of great significance that in Palestinian Judaism we still find the same conception of the one who brings good tidings as in Deutero Isaiah. When the Mibasar comes, and the Messianic age dawns."
Mibasar in the messenger of good news or "the one bringing good news."
On page 716, the TDNT states, "The OT expectation of the Mibasar was still alive in the time of Jesus. The examples given bracket the period of early Christianity." Then the dictionary article notes there are prophetic references and rabbinic references on either side of Jesus life and ministry pointing to this expectation.
An interesting side note is that page 726-727 note a play on words used by Rabbis early in the common era to poke fun at the new sect which would come to be called Christianity. The play on words possible in the Greek, but not in Aramaic or Hebrew. Rabbi Meir (c. 150) called the gospels
Aven-Gillajon meaning "writing of destruction" while Rabbi Jochanon (d. 279) called them
Avon-Gillajon meaning "writing of sins."
The article goes on at some length, but in every reference the term "good news" is used following the etymology of
euangelion:
eu meaning "good" and
angelion meaning "news." I stand by my earlier translation.
peace,
Frank+
The Rev. Frank Logue, Pastor +
King of Peace Episcopal ChurchKing of Peace.blogspt.com