Brian Wilkes

Matthew's Gospel in Cherokee Brian Wilkes

Our Expanded Bilingual Editions present the Cherokee text in both old and new syllabary, Cherokee phonetics, and King James English to facilitate study and retention of the Cherokee language. Matthew's Gospel is a companion to the Cherokee New Testament digitized and released in 2013. Translated into Cherokee in the nineteenth century under the direction of Revs. Samuel Worcester and Elias Boudinot, the Cherokee New Testament is the largest complex text composed in Cherokee by fluent speakers with an command of a high level of the language. For generations, the New Testament has been used by Cherokees of all persuasions to learn to speak and write as their ancestors did. Perhaps more so than the other Gospels, Matthew was written to Jewish Christians rather than gentile converts. Matthew draws parallels between Jesus' experiences and those of Israel itself, with five long sermons paralleling the five books of Moses: Sermon on the Mount, Missionary Discourse, Parables, Discourse on the Church, Olivet Discourse. Matthew shows greater respect for Jewish law and tradition than do the other Gospel authors, even making a point of using the phrase "kingdom of heaven" 31 times, where other gospels say "kingdom of God", to avoid using God's name in vain. The respect for indigenous tradition is shown in little ways, such as the translation of "hell" as tsusgina-yi, literally, "ghost land" of Cherokee tradition. We hope that this volume, richly illustrated with the work of Gustave Dore, is a blessing for both your intellect and spirit.