Apart from Prov 25:25 and Prov 15:30, the expression "good news" ONLY appears in the New Testament. It is the literal translation of the Greek composite word euaggelion (Strong's G2098) usually translated in English with "gospel". It appears in the NT more than 70 times, in various expressions, first and foremost "gospel of the kingdom", but also "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), "gospel of peace" (Eph. 6:15) etc.
But what is the "gospel", what are the "good news" proclaimed and brought definitively by Jesus with his life, words, works, passion, death and resurrection?
I believe the essence is best expressed by these two verses:
He [Jesus] said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!” (Mark 1:15)
For
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to
everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16)
The Kingdom of God is near, and all it takes to be part of it is repent and accept God's salvation.
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