THE GOSPELS IN GENERAL ——— THE TITLE OF THE GOSPELS The shortest form of the title is κατὰ Ματθᾶιον, κατὰ Μάρχον, etc. The Textus Receptus and some of the Mnn. have τὸ κατὰ Ματθᾶιον εὐαγγέλιον; but the greater part of the Mjj. read εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ματθᾶιον, etc. The word εὐαγγέλιον passed through three stages in the history of its use. In the older Greek authors it signified a reward for bringing good tidings; also, a thankoffering for good tidings brought. Next in later Greek it indicated