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Author: Batanayi I. Manyika

A Procedure for Analysis of Contemporary Reception of Biblical Texts in Ghana: A Methodological Consideration

Author: Clement Adjei-Brown

Dr. Clement Adjei-Brown is a researcher, an educator, and a theologian in Biblical Theology. He holds a PhD from the South African Theological Seminary (SATS). He teaches Systematic Theology, Hermeneutics, and Biblical Greek at various Seminaries in Ghana. He is the author of Charismatic Hermeneutics: An African Perspective and Reception Theory and African Charismatic Hermeneutics.

Keywords: Reception theory, horizon of expectations, the influence of language, concept of play, uses, gratifications
This essay hypothesizes that the contemporary reception of biblical concepts by Ghanaian charismatic preachers is influenced by beliefs and practices of traditional, religious, and cultural conceptions. This hypothesis is investigated by the analysis of the socio-historical context of the preacher’s community obtained through qualitative analysis of existing data and interviews…

Book Review: Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters by Carmen J. Imes

Author: Paul Cookey

Paul Cookey: Theological College of Northern Nigeria

What does it mean to “bear God’s name?” What does it mean to “take or bear or carry the name of the LORD in vain?” This is the concern of Imes’s book. The book takes its title from Exodus 20:7 which states that the name of Yahweh should not be taken in vain. The author regards this as the second of the Ten Commandments, which she links with Exodus 28 where the high priest bears the names of all the twelve tribes of Israel in his service before Yahweh (48–50).

John L. M. Dube’s Leadership: Evaluating Frank Chikane, Kenneth Meshoe, and Mmusi Maimane as Leaders

Author: Abraham Modisa Mkhondo Mzondi

Dr. Modisa Mzondi earned two doctoral degrees (one in Theology, the other in Religious Studies) from the University of Johannesburg. He is a founder and director of Back to Basics-Kago Leswa, and is also a pastor of Let My People Go Ministries. He also serves as Senior Lecturer, Supervisor, and as the MDiv Program Coordinator at the South African Theological Seminary (SATS). He has a passion for ministering to children, youth, and families. Dr. Mzondi is also involved in leadership development and training. His research interests lie in Ubuntu, African theology, (African) womanism, and Pentecostalism.

Keywords: African Christian leaders, leadership qualities, transformation, non-dichotomous perspective of Ubuntu, South African political landscape
Since 1898, various African Christian leaders have emerged and contributed to shaping the South African political landscape. One such leader is the late John Langalibalele Mafukuzela Dube, the first president of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC), later called the African National Congress (ANC). This article uses a case study research methodology to identify the leadership qualities that influenced him, tracing them to the leadership qualities of Frank Chikane, Kenneth Meshoe, and Mmusi Maimane…

The Holy Spirit in Relation to Mission and World Christianity: A Reformed Perspective

Author: Alistair I. Wilson

Dr. Alistair Wilson is Lecturer in Mission and New Testament at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in New Testament from the University of Aberdeen. He is an ordained minister of the Free Church of Scotland. He previously taught at Highland Theological College, Scotland (1996–2005, 2015–2017) and Dumisani Theological Institute, South Africa (2005–2014, serving as Principal from 2006). He has also taught short courses in West Africa and is an Extraordinary Researcher with North- West University in South Africa.

Keywords: Holy Spirit, mission, world Christianity, Reformed theology
Despite perceptions to the contrary, the Reformed tradition has historically emphasized the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The significance of the Holy Spirit with respect to mission has not always, however, been highlighted. While the remarkable growth of the Church in the Majority World, and particularly of “Pentecostal/Charismatic/neo- Pentecostal” churches, has become evident recently, there has been relatively little engagement with these trends in the writings of Reformed theologians…

God in Oral African Traditional Theology: Exploring the Spoken Theologies of Afua Kuma and Tope Alabi

Authors: Harvey Kwiyani and Joseph Ola

Mr. Joseph Ola holds a Master’s degree in Biblical and Pastoral Theology from Liverpool HopeUniversity where he currently studies African Christianity. He is the author of a few books including Pandemic Joy and Biblical Wisdom for Young Adults. He founded and leads Alive Mentorship Group, an online mentoring platform for millennials with over 3,000 members. He blogs at www.josephkolawole.org and can be reached via [email protected].

Dr. Harvey Kwiyani is a missions theologian from Malawi. He teaches theology at Liverpool Hope University in Liverpool, England. He blogs at www.harvmins.com and can be reached via [email protected].

Keywords: Afua Kuma, Tope Alabi, oral African theology, African women theologians
In this essay we explore the conceptualizations of God in African oral theology, focusing on the traditions of the Akan people of Ghana and of the Yoruba of Nigeria. We examine the spoken-word works—prayers and songs—of two African women, Afua Kuma and Tope Alabi. Our goal is to lay out an agenda for an intentional Africanization of Christian Theology in Africa and the African Diaspora…

Metaphoric and Metonymic Conceptualization of the Nose in Hebrew and Twi

Author: Charles Owiredu

Prof. Charles Owiredu is a Langham Scholar. He holds a PhD from the University of Durham, England. He studied ancient languages including Hebrew, Greek, Ugaritic, Syriac, and Egyptian (Hieroglyphics). He teaches Biblical Languages in various universities in Ghana. He speaks three major Ghanaian languages fluently, some Modern Hebrew and some Modern Greek. He is a member of faculty, Daniel Institute, Central University, Ghana. He has published several books in the area of biblical studies. His main interests are in languages, anthropology, and biblical studies.

Keywords: nose, anger, metonymy, Conceptual Metaphor Theory, Twi Hebrew
This paper examines the metaphorical and metonymic structure of the “nose” in Biblical Hebrew and Twi, a Kwa language spoken in Ghana, West Africa. The study is done within the framework of the Conceptual Metaphor Theory propounded by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). The aim is to analyze the ways in which the body part אַף (nose) is used in the Hebrew Bible to express human experiences, and to compare them with their translations in the Akuapem Twi Bible (ATB 1964)…

The Concept of Cult Centralization in Deuteronomy and it Possible Implications for Today

Author: Miracle Ajah

Dr. Miracle Ajah is an Associate Professor of Old Testament in the Department of Religious Studies, National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja, and a Research Fellow at the Department of Old and New Testament, Stellenbosch University (South Africa). He has served as Minister of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria (PCN) since 1986 and as a former Rector of Hugh Goldie Lay/ Theological Training Institution, Arochukwu. Ajah obtained his Doctor of Theology (Old Testament) at Stellenbosch University, South Africa in 2006, MA (Biblical Studies) at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Texas, USA in 2001, BA (Religion) at University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 1995, and a Diploma in Theology at Trinity Union Theological College, Umuahia in 1986. In 2015, Ajah completed a proficiency course in Biblical Hebrew at Hebrew University, Jerusalem. He has taught Biblical Hebrew and Old Testament courses at different tertiary institutions since 2000, authored a Biblical Hebrew Grammar, which was published by African Christian Textbooks (ACTS). His research interests lie in Biblical Studies, Language and Translation Consultancy, and Basic Training for Christian Leaders and Pastors (BTCLP).

Keywords: centralized cult, Deuteronomy, sacred law, federalism, resource control
The concept of cult centralization in the book of Deuteronomy is viewed as one of Deuteronomy’s constructs for an inclusive society where everyone is important, including the most vulnerable. Some scholars like Bennett and Tigay disagree with this opinion. They argue that the cult centralization, which made the capital the sole center of worship and pilgrimage, was a product of indoctrination and oppression that benefited only the king…

Conspectus 31

April 2021
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