Calque: The good news

One way to translate a word or phrase is to use what is called a "calque", which is sometimes called a "loan translation".

The English word "calque" is from the French word "calque" ≈ "trace, imitation, close copy".

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One often hears the Bible message presented as the "Good News". This saying is a calque of the Greek.

The modern Greek word "ευαγγέλιον" (ev-agh-Y-lee-on) ≈ "good news" where the modern Greek prefix "ευ" (ev) ≈ "good" and the modern Greek word "άγγελμα" (AGH-yl-ma) ≈ "message, announcement" from which we get the English word "angel" as a "messenger". Los Angeles is named as the city of "angels".

The English word "evangelical" literally means "good news". The word "gospel" is a calque from Old English.

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Matthew 24:14

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KJV: And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Greek: και κηρυχθησεται τουτο το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας εν ολη τη οικουμενη εις μαρτυριον πασιν τοις εθνεσιν και τοτε ηξει το τελος

Latin: et praedicabitur hoc evangelium regni in universo orbe in testimonium omnibus gentibus et tunc veniet consummatio

Wessex: & þis godspel byð boded ofer ealle eorðan. on witnyssen eallen þeoden & þanne cymð seo ge-endunge.

Tyndale: And this gladtidingees of the kyngdome shalbe preached in all the worlde for a witnes vnto all nacions: and then shall the ende come.

Luther: Und es wird geprediget werden das Evangelium vom Reich in der ganzen Welt zu einem Zeugnis über alle Völker; und dann wird das Ende kommen.

Russian: И проповедано будет сие Евангелие Царствия по всей вселенной, во свидетельство всем народам; и тогда придет конец.

The Old English word "godspel" ≈ "Gospel" which is, literally, a "good spell" where spell has to do with speaking, as in a witch casting a "spell" by speaking.

Note that the Old English word which had been "good spell" had changed via association with "God" to "god spell" and then to "gospell" as the words were merged. The same change happened in German and other Germanic languages.

The Middle English word "gladtidingees" ≈ "glad tidings, Gospel", as used my Tyndale, who uses the Middle English word "gospell" ≈ "Gospel" in the following verse.

1 Corinthians 9:14

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KJV: Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

Greek: ουτως και ο κυριος διεταξεν τοις το ευαγγελιον καταγγελλουσιν εκ του ευαγγελιου ζην

Latin: ita et Dominus ordinavit his qui evangelium adnuntiant de evangelio vivere

Tyndale: Even so also dyd ye lorde ordayne that they which preache ye gospell shuld live of the gospell.

Luther: Also hat auch der Herr befohlen daß, die das Evangelium verkündigen; sollen sich vom Evangelium nähren.

John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. [kjv]

Hys leorningcnihtas cwaeðen to hym. Nu þu sprecst openlice. & ne segst nan by-spell. [wes]

The Old English word "byspell" ≈ "speakest" where the prefix "by-" adds emphasis to the following word. This is the source of the English word "spell" as in to come and "sit a spell" which meant not to sit for a while, but to sit and speak to each other.

Even in the Wessex Gospels, the Old English word "sprecst" ≈ "speakest" was already in use. By Middle English, the Old English word "spell" as speaking had been replaced with "speak".

John 16:29

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KJV: His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb.

Greek: λεγουσιν αυτω οι μαθηται αυτου ιδε νυν εν παρρησια λαλεις και παροιμιαν ουδεμιαν λεγεις

Wessex: Hys leorningcnihtas cwaeðen to hym. Nu þu sprecst openlice. & ne segst nan by-spell.

Wycliffe: Hise disciplis seiden to hym, Lo! now thou spekist opynli, and thou seist no prouerbe.

Tyndale: His disciples sayd vnto him: loo now speakest thou playnly and thou vsest no proverbe.

John 16:29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. [kjv]

λεγουσιν οι μαθηται αυτου ιδε νυν εν παρρησια λαλεις και παροιμιαν ουδεμιαν λεγεις [gnt]

… openlice… by-spell. [wes]

What is the difference between a "parable" and a "proverb"? It appears that the Hebrew/Aramaic has one word for this concept and that word can be translated into Greek as "parable" or "proverb".

"παραβολή" ≈ "saying, proverb"
"παροιμία" ≈ "saying, proverb"

It is possible that whoever did the Greek translation picked the Greek word that they thought best matched the original language, but the differences and implications are yet interesting (and left for another time and place).

More: Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus

James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, [kjv]

εαν αδελφος η αδελφη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν και λειπομενοι της εφημερου τροφης [gnt]

The modern Greek word "εφημερίδα" (eh-fee-meh-REE-tha) ≈ "newspaper" from the Greek words for "on" and "daily".

The ancient Greek word "ἐφήμερος" ≈ "daily".
The ancient Greek word "ἐπί" ≈ "upon, on".
The ancient Greek word "‎ἡμέρᾱ" ≈ "day".

James 2:15

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KJV: If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

Greek: εαν δε αδελφος η αδελφη γυμνοι υπαρχωσιν και λειπομενοι ωσιν της εφημερου τροφης