ABSTRACT Studies in the psalter have generally been done using form-critical and historical-critical methodologies. In studying imprecations within the psalms, most scholars have focused on addressing the issues from Christian ethical perspectives. With the recent surge of newer and more reader-centred methodologies, this thesis deviates from the usual form-critical and Christian ethical approaches to the study of the imprecations in the psalms and rather uses a literary-critical method. Wit...
ABSTRACT The researcher was confronted with the question of the development of Victory Bible Church International. It became necessary therefore to find out how the church began and developed and its contributions to PentecostalCharismatic Ministry in Ghana. The history of Victory Bible Church International is crucial because it was among the first few charismatic churches that started the Neo-Pentecostal Movement in Ghana and introduced certain activities into the fraternity. Documents and b...
Abstract The literary composition of Israel‟s religious history has been attributed to several schools, one of which is the Deuteronomic school with a strong social vision. One of its social visions was the response to social inequality. Existing studies on the Deuteronomic history (Deuteronomy-2Kings) have focused on various levels of redactions and cult centralisation but have not clearly articulated the Deuteronomic response to the phenomenon of social inequality and relevance from the ...
ABSTRACT Charity Tithe (CT) in Deuteronomy was used to provide palliatives for the poor in Ancient Israel. Contrariwise, while groups likened to these are found in Nigerian churches, especially the Anglican Church, CT is not adopted, resulting largely in loss of members to other denominations practising a similar system. Existing studies on tithing and church poverty alleviation have addressed the obligatory nature of tithing, but little attention has been paid to the welfare values of CT a...
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to find out the history and impact of Islam in the Volta Region of Ghana with special emphasis on Ave Afiadenyigba. The design used for this research was that of a case study. Unstructured interview and participant observation were used as the instruments for the study. In selecting the sample for the interview, this study made use of the purposive and simple random techniques. These sampling procedures helped the researcher access relevant information o...
ABSTRACT This study seeks to examine some trends currently present in Ghanaian Pentecostal prophetism in order to open up the prophetic ‘problem’ for further scholarly probe. The study employs the purposive sampling of participatory method of qualitative research methodology. The instruments used in data collection and analysis include in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaire administration, and participatory-observation. The Church of Pentecost (CoP) constitutes the m...
ABSTRACT The activities of Ona Iwa Mimo Cherubim and Seraphim Church (OIMCandSC) in Ibadan are connected with the practices and elements of the ancient Israelite religion from which the church took its root. Existing studies have examined the activities from a liturgical point of view, but have not adequately explored how they have been contextualised. This study, therefore, investigated the adoption of selected Israelite sacred cultic practices, namely, ritual cleansing, scapegoatism and sac...
ABSTRACT This study examined Matthew 20:20-34. The visit of the mother of Zebedee’s children and her two sons to Jesus in search for the greatest position (the right and left seat) in Christ’s kingdom set the tone for the research. Their request for the highest position prompted Jesus to question their commitment to what they were asking for. The response of the two to his question and the reaction of the other ten disciples after hearing of the visit of the two sons of Zebedee, gave Jes...
ABSTRACT The Church of Christ (COC), established in South-western Nigeria in 1959 as an offshoot of the 19th century sectarian American Restoration Movement, claims to be the only true church to restore primitive Christianity in both teachings and practices. Contrariwise, evidence from Early Church history contradicts this claim, which necessitates an investigation into the true position; existing studies having focused on the history of the church and the biographies of its leaders to the n...
Abstract Training, a generic word for the process of perfecting a specific skill or purpose, encapsulates the rationale for parenting in the book of Proverbs 22:6. However, existing interpretations of the Hebrew ḥănōḵ (train) in the cited text limit it to the disposition, manner, morality and choice of vocation for adolescents while infant nurturing; a more foundational stage in parenting, has been ignored. Consequently, the study analysed Proverbs 22:6 to appropriately situate the nec...
ABSTRACT Sustainable peace is a great need in post-war Liberia. The Lutheran Church in Liberia is determined to provide an appropriate Christian response to building sustainable peace in the country. The main objective of this study, therefore, was to do a theological appraisal of the post-war peacebuilding work of the Lutheran Church in Liberia. In order to do this, a conceptual study of conflict in general and a contextual study of the Liberian civil war in particular were conducted to enha...
ABSTRACT Existing studies on tithes and offerings have focused on the historical dimension of these religious obligations at the neglect of their ethical perspectives which are central to the success of the drive for and voluntary participation in the practice. This study, therefore, examined the tradition of tithes and offerings in the Osun Baptist Conference, in terms of payers, types, objects and disbursement with a view to evaluating their ethical alignment with Biblical injunctions with ...
ABSTRACT Divine Healing, which is healing without orthodox medicine, has over the years played a dominant role in the growth of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Southwestern Nigeria. Despite this role, previous studies have focused on its theological significance and changing trends, with little emphasis on its impact on the growth of CAC Therefore, this study examined the healing ministry in CAC Southwestern Nigeria (1943-2000), with a view to assessing its large contributions to the numeri...
ABSTRACT Witchcraft is considered as a feminine art in the Dagbamba society. The art is generally attributed to older women, but young women or even girls can sometimes be involved. This study sought to discuss the Dagbamba witchcraft and the concept of exorcism. The primary aim was to find out how witchcraft is perceived and understood by the Dagbamba and how this belief influences the lives of the people. The Tindanʒee Yili in Kpatinga is the main study area however; the findings were pr...
ABSTRACT The Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) is a church that recorded remarkable proselytising success among the Maguzawa in Kano and Katsina States despite the people‟s resistance to Islam or Christianity. This achievement notwithstanding, little attention has been paid to the history and strategies adopted by the church to Christianise the Maguzawa. This study, therefore, investigated the evangelistic strategies the ECWA deployed in the Maguzawa communities in Kano and Katsina ...