What Is the Injil (Gospel)?

What Is the Injil (Gospel)?

Injil is the Arabic term commonly understood as the Gospel—the good news associated with Jesus. This page explains the Injil’s meaning in English, how the Qur’an references it, and why it matters, with a concise definition up front and sources you can check.

Is the Injil the Gospel?

The word "Injil" (Arabic: الإنجيل, pronounced al-Injīl) is the term used in the Qur’an to refer to the Gospel given to Jesus (Isa in Islam). The etymology of "Injil" traces back through several languages and cultures:

1. Greek Origin – "Euangelion" (εὐαγγέλιον):

• The term "euangelion" in Greek means "good news" or "good tidings".

• It is a compound of "eu" (εὖ), meaning "good", and "angelion" (ἀγγέλιον), meaning "message" or "announcement".

• This term was commonly used in the context of proclaiming news of victory or other significant events.

2. Transition through Syriac – "Ewangeliyon":

• The Greek "euangelion" was adopted into Syriac (a dialect of Middle Aramaic used in early Christian literature) as "ewangeliyon".

• Syriac-speaking Christians played a significant role in the early spread of Christianity in the Middle East.

3. Adoption into Arabic – "Injil":

• From Syriac, the term entered Arabic as "Injil".

• The Arabic adaptation maintained the original meaning of "good news".

• In the Qur’an, "Injil" specifically refers to the revelation given to Jesus by God.

Summary

"Injil" derives from Greek "euangelion" via Syriac "ewangeliyon".

• It retains the meaning of "good news" or "gospel".

• In Islamic theology, it denotes the holy book revealed to Jesus.

Etymology of "Gospel"

The English word "gospel" originates from Old English and has its own linguistic journey:

1. Old English – "Gōdspel":

 • "Gōdspel" is a compound of two Old English words:

      = "gōd" meaning "good".

      = "spel" meaning "news," "tale," or "story".

• Thus, "gōdspel" literally means "good news" or "good story".

2. Translation of Latin "Evangelium":

• The Old English "gōdspel" was used to translate the Latin word "evangelium".

• "Evangelium" comes from the Greek "euangelion" (εὐαγγέλιον), meaning "good news".

• Early English translators chose "gōdspel" to convey the same meaning as "evangelium."

3. Evolution into Modern English – "Gospel":

• Over time, "gōdspel" evolved in spelling and pronunciation to become "gospel".

• The term is used to refer to the first four books of the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that describe the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

• It also broadly represents the Christian message of salvation.

Summary

"Gospel" comes from Old English "gōdspel", meaning "good news".

It was used to translate Latin "evangelium", itself from Greek "euangelion".

The word retains its original meaning and is central to Christian theology.

Conclusion

Both "Injil" and "Gospel" share a common root in the Greek word "euangelion", meaning "good news". Despite their different linguistic paths — "Injil" through Syriac into Arabic, and "Gospel" through Old English — they both convey the message of the teachings and revelations associated with Jesus. Each term reflects the cultural and linguistic context of the religious traditions (Islam and Christianity) in which they are used.