An introduction to a paper on the biblical basis of evangelism given by a leading speaker at a world conference likened the church to a theological wonderland. He recounted a conversation between Alice in Wonderland and Humpty Dumpty:

'When I use a word', Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less'.

'The question is', said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean different things'.

'The question is', said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be the master—that's all'.

In this paper, we will be considering one word in particular, the word 'Gospel', and Humpty Dumpty's question is relevant to our deliberations. Do we master the Gospel, or does the Gospel master us? Do we make the Gospel say what we wish it to be, or does the Gospel itself govern what we say about it?