Euanggelion. Gospel. Good news.

There is a scene from the great musical “Hamilton” where a song is interrupted by a herald with the words: “Silence! A message from the king. A message from the king. A message from the king!”

The king in Hamilton is George III, portrayed as a rather nasty and silly character. Nonetheless the sudden royal announcement captures nicely what a euanggelion (gospel) is – an imperial message that must be listened to. Silence! A message from the king! The foremost gospel of New Testament times (first century AD) came not from the early Christians, but from imperial Rome. Engraved in effect on the back of every coin was the proclamation “Caesar is Lord, the Son of God”. The victorious emperor in all his splendour is Lord and Saviour of the World, establishing peace across the cosmos by the might of his sword.

Against this, the ragtag band of Christians scattered across the Roman empire rejoined with another gospel. Engraved in blood on the back of every martyr was the proclamation “Jesus is Lord, the Son of God”. The crucified Messiah in all his splendour is Lord and Saviour of the World, establishing peace across the cosmos by the weakness of his death. And the glory of his resurrection.

This is the Christian gospel. Not fundamentally a piece of personal advice that you can take or leave, but a universal royal edict issued by the conquering King following his great victory.

Silence! A message from the King. A message from the King. A message from the King!

Whether you heed it or not, the announcement is about a true event as a result of which the world is a different place (c.f. NT Wright).

And the bottom line is this. Since it is a message from the King, whether you heed it or not, is of extreme, indeed, paramount, importance.