The Apostolic Kerygma

Kerygma (Greek: κηρυγμα, kérugma) is the Greek word used in the New Testament for preaching (see Luke 4:18-19, Romans 10:14, Matthew 3:1). It is related to the Greek verb κηρυσσο (kērúss?), to cry or proclaim as a herald, and means proclamation, announcement, or preaching.

The New Testament teaches that as Jesus launched his public ministry he entered the synagogue and read from the scroll of Isaiah the prophet. He identified himself as the one Isaiah predicted in Isa 61 (Luke 4:17-21). The text is a programmatic statement of Jesus’ ministry to preach or proclaim (Kerygma), good news to the poor and the blind and the captive.