Jesus said that his good news should spread to all parts of the world. This definitely includes Africa. However, it must not be mistaken that Africa is just a recipient of the news. There is a dominant and pivotal African presence in the bible, both the new and old testament. Here are some of the incidences worth noting.
The Garden of Eden is where man was put upon creation. This makes it the source of human kind and the appointed place for human existence. The bible in Genesis places the garden at the intersection of 4 rivers that include Cush, Asshur and Havilah. These rivers according to historians are in Ethiopia. It also happens that archeologists have recently discovered the oldest human fossils in Ethiopia. This almost confirms the narrative of location of the Garden of Eden.
There are stories of African women who were married to biblical patriarchs. Others bore children with these men. They include Abraham who had children with Hagar, a woman of Hermitic origin. If these men held such important positions in the narrative of Israelis, this indicates the central place that Africa was given in Christian living. In fact, it is Sarah who recommended to Abraham. It gives the children of Hagar a very special place.
The book of Psalms chapter 68 also features a prophecy about where a king shall arise from. The chapter says that he shall rise from Egypt. The chapter further states that Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand to the Lord. This could be in reference to the role played by Egypt in saving Jesus when Herod wanted to execute him. Ethiopia stretching her hand signifies the arrival of the wise men, one of who was from Ethiopia.
Egypt has a special place in biblical story of salvation. However negative the mention is in Old Testament, there is an element of redemption in New Testament. Joseph ends up in Egypt after being sold by his brothers. Moses rescues the people when God sends 7 disasters to the people of Egypt. Egypt acts as a refuge to Israelis when they faced drought. However, it is referred as the land of oppression even in imagery today.
The New Testament introduces Africa through the flight of Mary and Joseph when Herod wanted to kill them. It is the angel of God who instructed them to run. The death of Jesus would have spelt doom to salvation. It is Africa that gave refuge to the Son of God.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
When Jesus appeared to his disciples, he instructed them to go to all corners of the world. They ended up in Africa. Notable apostles are Simon who Acts 13, 1 and 2 refer to as Black One and Stephen. Such evidence makes Africa a central element of the story of salvation.
The Garden of Eden is where man was put upon creation. This makes it the source of human kind and the appointed place for human existence. The bible in Genesis places the garden at the intersection of 4 rivers that include Cush, Asshur and Havilah. These rivers according to historians are in Ethiopia. It also happens that archeologists have recently discovered the oldest human fossils in Ethiopia. This almost confirms the narrative of location of the Garden of Eden.
There are stories of African women who were married to biblical patriarchs. Others bore children with these men. They include Abraham who had children with Hagar, a woman of Hermitic origin. If these men held such important positions in the narrative of Israelis, this indicates the central place that Africa was given in Christian living. In fact, it is Sarah who recommended to Abraham. It gives the children of Hagar a very special place.
The book of Psalms chapter 68 also features a prophecy about where a king shall arise from. The chapter says that he shall rise from Egypt. The chapter further states that Ethiopia shall stretch out her hand to the Lord. This could be in reference to the role played by Egypt in saving Jesus when Herod wanted to execute him. Ethiopia stretching her hand signifies the arrival of the wise men, one of who was from Ethiopia.
Egypt has a special place in biblical story of salvation. However negative the mention is in Old Testament, there is an element of redemption in New Testament. Joseph ends up in Egypt after being sold by his brothers. Moses rescues the people when God sends 7 disasters to the people of Egypt. Egypt acts as a refuge to Israelis when they faced drought. However, it is referred as the land of oppression even in imagery today.
The New Testament introduces Africa through the flight of Mary and Joseph when Herod wanted to kill them. It is the angel of God who instructed them to run. The death of Jesus would have spelt doom to salvation. It is Africa that gave refuge to the Son of God.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
When Jesus appeared to his disciples, he instructed them to go to all corners of the world. They ended up in Africa. Notable apostles are Simon who Acts 13, 1 and 2 refer to as Black One and Stephen. Such evidence makes Africa a central element of the story of salvation.
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