protevangelium (protevanjelium)

[ πρῶτος, first, + εὐαγγέλιον, gospel: see evangel.] The earliest announcement of the gospel: re ferring to Gen. iii. 15. Also called pro to gospel. The Me ianic promises and hopes which run like a gold en thread from the protevangelium in paradise lost to the voice of John the Baptist. Schaff , Hist. Christ. Church, I. § 17.