The word of God is meant for everyone in the world. This includes Africans who appear to have gods of their own, unique to every tribe. Preaching to Africans about God and considering their history of suffering makes one question the African presence in the bible. This would be a good point to begin because it gives them a chance to associate with the biblical teaching.
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.
Biblical patriarchs are shown to have married or sired children with women of African descent. This afforded credence to the central place of Africans in biblical history. Sarah allowed Abraham to have a child with Hagar when her womb was barren. It signifies an element of rescue. Hagar was a Hermitic slave. This leaves Africans occupying a special place in the history of salvation.
Psalms also mentions two African nations of Egypt and Ethiopia. Egypt is said to be the bearer of a prince while Ethiopia will turn to the Lord. The book of Psalms was written way before Jesus was born. This is a prediction of Jesus running to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. As for Ethiopia, it is the recognition that the wise men gave to Jesus that signifies the turning to God. One of these men is said to have come from Ethiopia.
The mention of Egypt is rampant in the old and new testaments. Though she is referred to as an oppressor, Egypt is significant because of the story of Joseph and salvation by Moses. It is also in Egypt that Moses would rescue Israelis after the 7 calamities sent by God. Today, Egypt is used to refer to a state of bondage.
The story of Jesus opens with the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. They were told to run to Egypt by an angel of God. If it had not been for Egypt, Jesus would have met his death as an infant. This gives Africa a very special place in this biblical story of salvation.
Cyrene features in the history of Roman Empire because it produced oil, wool and corn. History has it that Cyrene was in Africa. This name is common because of Simon, a passerby who helped Jesus with his cross on the way to Golgotha. Considering that Rome traded with Cyrene and the people were known to be long distance marathoners, Simon definitely came from Africa.
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.
Biblical patriarchs are shown to have married or sired children with women of African descent. This afforded credence to the central place of Africans in biblical history. Sarah allowed Abraham to have a child with Hagar when her womb was barren. It signifies an element of rescue. Hagar was a Hermitic slave. This leaves Africans occupying a special place in the history of salvation.
Psalms also mentions two African nations of Egypt and Ethiopia. Egypt is said to be the bearer of a prince while Ethiopia will turn to the Lord. The book of Psalms was written way before Jesus was born. This is a prediction of Jesus running to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. As for Ethiopia, it is the recognition that the wise men gave to Jesus that signifies the turning to God. One of these men is said to have come from Ethiopia.
The mention of Egypt is rampant in the old and new testaments. Though she is referred to as an oppressor, Egypt is significant because of the story of Joseph and salvation by Moses. It is also in Egypt that Moses would rescue Israelis after the 7 calamities sent by God. Today, Egypt is used to refer to a state of bondage.
The story of Jesus opens with the flight of Mary and Joseph to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. They were told to run to Egypt by an angel of God. If it had not been for Egypt, Jesus would have met his death as an infant. This gives Africa a very special place in this biblical story of salvation.
Cyrene features in the history of Roman Empire because it produced oil, wool and corn. History has it that Cyrene was in Africa. This name is common because of Simon, a passerby who helped Jesus with his cross on the way to Golgotha. Considering that Rome traded with Cyrene and the people were known to be long distance marathoners, Simon definitely came from Africa.
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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