Question 1

Why a new Christian book for Muslims?

Accepted Answer

The project was born out of the realization that there was no edition of a gospel specifically for a Muslim audience, in terms of the aesthetics of the book and the reading aids provided (commentaries and notes). There are other excellent books that can be offered to a Muslim, but it seemed important to us to have a book that could be offered as the Gospel itself, rather than a book about the Gospel. While the English/Arabic New Testament also meets this need, it is much longer and does not include reading aids.

Question 2

Why did you choose the Gospel according to Matthew?

Accepted Answer

While all four Gospels can touch the hearts of Muslims, Matthew holds several key advantages:

◾ Monotheistic Audience: Matthew wrote for a monotheistic audience of Jewish origin, who are therefore relatively close to Muslims.
 ◾ Progressive Revelation: Matthew unveils Jesus’ true identity and mission gradually. This allows Muslim readers to discover how extraordinary Jesus is without being immediately put off by a premature confrontation with the hardest concepts to accept: His divinity and death on the cross.
 ◾ Logical Order: As the first book of the New Testament, Matthew is a simple and natural place to start!

On the other hand, while Mark, Luke, and John each have their own distinct strengths, all three open with elements that may well deter a Muslim from reading them:

◾ Mark starts with a highly controversial topic right from the very first verse by speaking of 'the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.' This creates a significant barrier to reading on.
 ◾ Luke also raises this issue twice right from his first chapter ('Son of the Most High' and 'Son of God' in Luke 1:32 and 35).
 Crucially, Luke starts by detailing his historical method, which runs counter to the Islamic concept of divine revelation (a text dictated from above, word for word). This opening can seriously undermine the text's credibility for a Muslim reader.
 ◾ Finally, John opens with the account of the incarnation of 'the one and only Son, who came from the Father.'

These passages can be invaluable in helping our Muslim friends understand the divinity of the Messiah, but we recommend approaching them a bit later. Thus, our commentary on Matthew selectively draws on certain elements of John’s prologue, but later in the narrative (Matthew 17 and 24).

Question 3

How can I use this book?

Accepted Answer

◾️   L’Injil de Jésus le Messie was designed primarily as a gift for a Muslim friend or acquaintance. This personal approach can facilitate a personal discussion about faith. Christian holidays such as Christmas or Easter can be excellent opportunities to reach out to our Muslim neighbors!

◾️   It is also possible to use L’Injil as a Bible study guide, in pairs or in groups, either for those who do not read, or for those who wish to discover Jesus in company with others. However it does not contain ready-to-use group study questions, and such a use will require some preparation from the group leader. For those who do not read, the audio book will also be a helpful option in the future.

◾️   There is an evangelism pamphlet (only in French), published by a partner mission, which is a good tool to encourage Muslims to think more about Jesus and also to ask for a copy of L’Injil. For more information, please contact us.

◾️   Before you give the book to a friend, pray for him or her, for it is the Lord who is able to touch their heart. Express to your friend a real interest in their ideas and their religion, for this is a mark of friendship and respect. Moreover, really listening allows you to be listened to in turn! Finally, don't hesitate to read the book yourself (it is also enriching and stimulating for Christians), because this will help you in your discussions with your friend.

Question 4

I can't find a version of the book in my language: what can I do?

Accepted Answer

The book L’Injil was originally written in French, and some translations are in progress (see the Translations page). If you are interested in another language, or if you would like to offer your services for a translation, please let us know via the Contact us page.

Question 5

Who is the author of the comments?

Accepted Answer

The author of the comments wishes to remain anonymous. He has served as a missionary with SIM in a Muslim country for several years, and has benefited throughout his work from the expert advice of an Islam specialist of Algerian origin.

Question 6

Is there an ebook version?

Accepted Answer

There is currently no ebook version of L’Injil de Jésus le Messie.