New Matthew commentary helps Muslims hear gospel

BY SAVANNAH BREWER

The Injil of Jesus the Messiah is an innovative commentary on the gospel of Matthew, written and designed by a French SIM worker in Francophone West Africa.

The word ‘Injil’ means gospel in Arabic and is usually applied to the books regarded as holy by Muslims.

This Injil offers a commentary aimed at readers who come from a Muslim background, helping them discover the full depth of the gospel message. Available in French, the book will soon be available in some African languages. We asked the author, who does not want to be identified, a little about the Injil.

What was the purpose and inspiration behind this project?

It all started in 2018, during my first months of long-term commitment. I was looking for a good edition of a gospel I could give to my new Muslim contacts, but I couldn't find one that was really suitable for this audience. I then started to think about how to meet this need, and it was thanks to the advice of a good friend that the project came about. He is a former Muslim, a doctoral student in Islamology and a teacher in various biblical institutes. His experience was particularly valuable to me!

How does the design resonate with Islamic believers?

The Injil is one of the books Islam recognises as revealed by God, along with the Torah, the Prophets and the Psalms. However, Muslims do not know them! So the challenge is to arouse their interest, and the most effective way of doing this is to use a format and design adapted to their expectations. This is the purpose of the cover, which uses Muslim cultural codes to look like a holy book. It is often confused with the Koran! The advantage is that the reader has spontaneous respect for the book, and the Christian who offers it to his friend can be proud of his gift!

What is different about this commentary?

The classic commentaries are intended for Christians who wish to deepen their understanding of the text. But the comments in The Injil are designed for readers of Muslim culture, to help them discover the basics of the Christian faith.

To reach this audience, the introduction and comments are written in appropriate language and provide useful keys for understanding. As for the themes rejected by Islam, such as the divinity of Jesus or his scandalous death on the cross, they are introduced very gradually, as Matthew himself does. The general tone is one of presentation, not polemic, but since some objections are inevitable, the book ends with a few pages of more apologetic additions, which seek to answer the classic questions posed by many Muslims.

Why did the team choose Matthew’s gospel?

Matthew addressed Jewish readers, who were monotheistic believers just like people of the Muslim faith. This gospel is therefore particularly relevant. I really like its progressiveness, which gently brings up themes like the divinity of Christ. John’s gospel approaches that from the outset, which also has advantages, but a reader who could be shocked by this truth might give up there and then without having been able to discover the person of Jesus! This is what we tried to avoid by offering the gospel of Matthew.

What has been the reaction from Muslim friends? Most of the Muslims we have given it to were touched to receive it, and were enthusiastic and grateful. Of course, some were more reserved. It's normal for reactions to vary, but I'm very encouraged that I haven't seen any hostility towards this book. When we offer it to friends who appreciate us, there is a good chance that everything will go very well.

What advice would you give someone who would like to give The Injil to a Muslim friend?

Pray and let yourself be led, but also read the book yourself! This will allow you to see the gospel with new eyes, to better put yourself in the shoes of your Muslim friends who will discover it. This will help you understand the book and its approach. All this can only promote personal discussions afterwards.

That is the purpose of the book: I would like it to be a help in deepening the discussions with our Muslim friends. The word of God sometimes touches the hearts of people who have never met a single Christian. But, much more often, this is done within the framework of a relationship with witnesses of flesh and bones! I hope this reading will inspire Christians to offer this gospel, and to go further in sharing with their Muslim friends.

Has it been translated into any other languages?

Two translations are underway, into Zarma and Hausa, but we hope it won't stop there! May God raise up men and women who will get involved in this beautiful project. We also plan to record the book in audio format, which can be distributed on micro-SD cards and is very suitable for people with low literacy.

There is no concrete translation project into English but it would certainly be very useful! Many Muslims are English-speaking and could discover salvation in Christ thanks to such a translation. We are open to any proposal, from SIM or elsewhere!

How have you been able to publish it at such a low price?

The book is cheap thanks to the efforts of the French publisher, Excelsis. I do not collect royalties. But it is still quite expensive in Africa! In these countries, it may be useful to call on the French mission Livr'Afrique (www.livrafrique.com), which offers a 25 per cent reduction for mission workers and booksellers, with free postage if you want more than 20 copies.

The publisher is planning to release a paperback version, at a very reduced price, intended for large orders. For more information about this project, or to offer your help in translating The Injil, please email connect@sim.org and we will put you in touch.

PLEASE PRAY

� For the translation work to go well and be useful in sharing the gospel with Muslims across West Africa and beyond

� For all those Muslim people who have read the Injil, to come to a full understanding of who Jesus is

� For God to lead those who have access to the Injil, as they seek to share it in appropriate ways with their Muslim friends