Egypt for the land itself (see Kurtz, Hist, of Old Cov. § 41). — Smith, s. v. ; Kitto, s. v. ; Fairbairn, s. v. See Egypt.
2. (Sept. Toaoji; Vulg. Gessen, Gozen), the "land" or the "country [both "j^'IX] of Goshen," twice named as a district in southern Palestine, included in the con- quests of Joshua (.losh. x, 41 ; xi, IG). From the first of these it would seem to have lain between Gaza and Gibeon, and therefore to be some part of the maritime plain of Judah; but in the latter passage that plain, the Shefduh, is expressly specified (here with the arti- cle) in addition to Goshen. In this place, too, the sit- uation of Goshen — if the order of the statement be anv indication — would seem to be between the "south" and the Shefelah (A. V. "valley"). If Goshen was any portion of this rich plain, is it not possible that its fertility may have suggested the name to the Israel- ites .' On the other hand, the name may be far older, and ma}- retain a trace of early intercourse between Egypt and the south of the promised land. For such intercourse comp. 1 Chron. vii, 21. — Smith, s. v. The name may even have been extended from No. 3 below (see Keil, On Josh. p. 280).
3. (Sept. Fticro/i, Vulg. Gosen.) A town of the same name is once mentioned (between Anini and Holon) in company with Debir, Socoh, and others, as in the mountains of Judah (Josh, xv, 51), in the group on the south-western part of the hills (see Keil, Josh. p. 384). It is probably the origin of the application to an adja- cent region (No. 2, above), for it is not likely that two entirely different places would be called by the same name, both in the southern quarter of Judah. From the mention of Gaza (Josh, x, 41) and the route of Joshua (ver. 10), the locality in question would seem to be situated in the gore of Judah, running up be- tween the territories of Benjamin and Dan, now occu-
i pied 1)}' the Beni-Malik, south of Kirjath-Jearim (comp. ' Kobinson's Researches, ii, 337). See Judah, Tribe
OF.
[ Go-spel. This word, "conformably to its etymo- logical meaning of Good-tidings, is used to signif}-, (1.) The welcome intelligence of salvation to man, as preach- ed by our Lord and his followers. (2.) It was after- wards transitively applied to each of the four histories of our Lord's life, published by those who are" there- fore called "Evangelists," writers of the history of the Gospel {ivayyiXioi'). (3.) "The term is often used to express collectively the Gospel-r/oc/n'wes ; and ' preaching the Gospel' is accordingly often used to include not only the 'proclaiming' of the good tidings, but the 'teaching' men how to avail themselves of the offer of salvation ;" the declaring of all the truths, precepts, promises, and threatenings of Christianity. It is termed "the (lospel of the grace of God," be- cause it flows from God's free love and goodness (Acts XX, 24): and, when truly and fiuthfully preached, is accompanied with tlie influences of the divine Spirit. It is called "the Gospel of the kingdom," because it treats of the kingdom of grace, and shows the way to the kingdom of glory. It is styled "the Gospel of Christ" because he is the author and great subject of it (Pom. i, IG); and "the Gospel of peace and salva- tion," because it pulilishes peace with God to the pen- itent and believing, gives, to such, peace of conscience and tranquillity of mind, and is the means of their sal- vation, present and eternal. As it displays the glory of God and of Christ, and ensures to his true followers eternal glory, it is entitled "the glorious Gospel" and " tlie everlasting Gospel," because it commenced from the fall of man, is permanent throughout all time, and produces eflects which are everlasting. This use of file word "gospel" has led some to sujipose that Gos- pol-trufh is to be found exclusively or chiefly in the " Gospels," to the neglect of the other sacred writ- ings ; and others, to conclude that the discourses of our Lord and the apostolic epistles must exactly coin-
GOSPELLER
933
GOSPELS
cide ,- and that in case of any apparent difference, the former must be the standard, and the latter must be taken to bear no other sense than what is implied bj' the other. Whereas, it is very conceivable, that though both n:ight be, in a certain sense, "good tidings," yet one mny contain a much more full development of the Christian scheme than tlie other (Eden ; Watson). It has been disputed whether the Gospel consists merely of promises, or whether it can in any sense be called a law. The answer ])lainly depends upon adjusting the meaning of the words ffospel and lair. If the gospel be taken for the declaration God has made to men by Christ, concerning the manner in wliich he will treat them, and the conduct he expects from them, it is plain that this includes commands, and even tlireaten- ings, as well as promises ; but to define the Gospel so as only to express the favorable part of that declara- tion, is indeed taking the question for granted, and confining the word to a sense much less extensive than it often has in Scripture (comp. Rom. ii, 16; 2 Thess. i, 8 ; 1 Tim. i, 9-11) ; and it is certain that, if the Gos- pel be jiut for all the parts of the dispensation taken in connection one with another, it may well be called, on the whole, a good message. In lilte manner the ques- tion, whether the Gospel be a law or not, is to be de- termined by the definition of the law and of the Gos- pel, as above. If Uav signifies, as it generally does, the discovery of the will of a superior, teaching what he requires of those under his government, with the intimation of his intention of dispensing rewards and punishments, as this rule of their conduct is observed or neglected ; in this latitude of expression it is plain, from the proposition, that the Gospel, taken for the declaration made to men by Christ, is a law, as in Scripture it is sometimes called (James i, 25 ; Rom. iv, 15; viii, 2). But if law be taken, in the greatest rigor of the expression, for such a discovcrj- of the will of God and our duty, as to contain in it no intimation of our obtaining the divine favor otherwise than by. a perfect and universal conformity to it, in that sense the Gospel is not a law. See Witsius, On ike Cove- nants, vol. iii, ch.i; Doddridge, Lectures, lect. clxxii; M'atts, OrthodoTi/ and Charity, Essay ii ; Buck, s. v.