Imperial Religion

The term εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) is found in several imperial inscriptions, usually related to the imperial religion. For example, an inscription in the Priene calendar honors Augustus’ birth as “the birthday of the god” which marks “the beginning of the good tidings [εὐαγγελίων (euangeliōn)] for the world” (Dittenberger, OGIS, 458; translated by Evans, “Mark’s Incipit,” 69). Klauck notes that this use of εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) “belongs to the established repertoire of the imperial cult, and is applied to the birthday of the emperor, his coming of age, his ascent of the throne, and his recovery of health” (Klauck, The Religious Context, 298). This inscription demonstrates that first-century Greeks and Romans were familiar with the concept of “good news.” In regard to parallels between the Priene inscription and the first line of the Gospel of Mark, Evans argues, “[O]ne very important aspect of the Markan evangelist’s portrait of Jesus is comparison to the Roman emperor and the emperor cult” (Evans, “Mark’s Incipit,” 79). The presence of εὐαγγέλιον (euangelion) in imperial decrees like the Priene inscription helps illuminate the first-century contextual usage of the term.