Oguaa Journal of Religion and Human Values

The Use of David’s Story in Matthew 12:1-8: Appraisal of Jesus’ Hermeneutics

John Appiah — 2024-06-01

Scholars identify Jesus’ hermeneutical methodology of David’s example in Matthew 12:3-4 as (a) rabbinic hermeneutics and (b) typological hermeneutics. In all, Jesus is connected with David. Contemporary New Testament scholars understand Matthean Jesus’s use of the story of David as (1) Jesus has authority like David; (2) Jesus presents himself as the Messiah and an antitype of David; or (3) Jesus sees himself as greater than David and/or the Temple. Thus, scholars compare Jesus with David and postulate that Jesus has authority to ignore the law. Hence, Matthew 12:3-4 has been interpreted through David-Jesus messianic lenses. However, a critical look at the text in its setting questions these long-held views. A critical review of related literature has presented two main gaps that this study seeks to address: (1) comparing David with Jesus makes the comparison awkward; (2) The David-typology approach makes an argument to justify the conduct of Jesus’ disciples, thereby advancing a Christological statement about Jesus and his ministry, without identifying the setting that allows Christological reading of the text. The burden of this research is to explore Jesus’ use David’s example in Matt 12:3-4 in the setting of Jesus and the Evangelist while investigating its hermeneutics.

An Exegetical Study of 1 Corinthians 6:9 and Its Discourse in Relation to the Contemporary Church

Hezekiah Deji Komolafe — 2024-06-01

Human sexuality has been a fundamental and complex issue throughout history. Scholars have debated the meaning of the term “ἀρσενοκοῖται” (arsenokoitai), used by Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:9, to support their arguments for or against same-sex relationships. In recent times, several countries, primarily in the northern hemisphere, have recognized gay marriage and allowed homosexual practices. The objective of this paper is to examine Paul’s usage of the Greek term arsenokoitai in its original context and to explore its theological implications for the contemporary Church. Historical and exegetical methods were employed to analyze the lexical and contextual meanings of the text. Data was gathered partly through interviews with ministers from selected Christian churches and through desk research of relevant online and library sources. The analysis of these sources suggests that, although same-sex relationships were common in the ancient Greco-Roman world, Paul likely coined the term arsenokoitai from Leviticus 20:13 to condemn not only same-sex relationships but also other immoral behaviours. The paper concludes that by using the term arsenokoitai, Paul acknowledged that while some individuals in Corinth had engaged in same-sex relationships, they could still seek forgiveness and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus if they repent and accept Christ.

Migration and Spirituality: The Holiness of the Church as A Reflection of the Holiness of the Migrant Covenanted Israelites

James Yamoah — 2024-06-01

This article discusses the holiness of Christians in relation to that of the migrant Israelites during their wilderness journey from Sinai to the east side of Jordan in the plains of Moab. On the strength of typical stipulations such as those mentioned in Leviticus 11:45 and Deuteronomy 23:12-14, the paper links the expectations of such Pentateuchal laws of holiness with the kind of holy living expected of Christians. Using intertextual links, it shows that the demands of the New Testament (NT) for holiness in particular are clear reflections of what pertained in some of the regulations of the Old Testament (OT) laws. The article concludes with a call on presentday Bible believers who, like the OT believers in God, are also considered as migrants on earth, to strive for holiness throughout their earthly journey.

A Study of Men’s Roles in Churches /Ministries Founded by Women in Yorubaland

Oyeronke Olademo — 2024-06-01

The Yoruba ethnic group, predominantly found in southwestern Nigeria and West Africa, relies on oral literature to preserve and understand its culture, including gender relations. Yoruba society emphasizes balance and complementarity between genders, allowing women to hold significant leadership roles in religion and culture. This influence extends to Christianity, where women lead in Orthodox, African Independent, and Pentecostal churches. Some women have even founded churches with male and female congregations. This study examines gender dynamics in Yoruba Christian churches, exploring questions about men's roles, the alignment with Biblical gender roles, and implications for church development. Using a mixed research design, data were collected through interviews with four female church founders and 100 questionnaires distributed across six churches. Each church contributed responses from 15 male and 5 female members, selected via purposive and random sampling methods. Descriptive analysis revealed that 95.8% of respondents reported male cooperation with female church founders, marking a significant shift from traditional Biblical views of male-dominated leadership. This study highlights the evolving gender roles within Yoruba Christianity, reflecting a broader cultural emphasis on shared responsibilities.