Book Review (제1권 제1호)

Patrick Manu 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2009 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.1 No.-

Security Threat in Nigeria: A Christian Interrogation of Ahmad Gumi Peacemaking Effort in Light of Islamic Concept of Peace

( Victor Ifatokun ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2022 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.26 No.-

This paper seeks to interrogate the peace making method initiated and carried out by Sheikh Ahmad Gumi in his effort to proffer solution to the security threats posed by the recurring banditry and kidnapping that has claimed thousands of lives, displacements of people and large-scale ransom in the Northwest region of Nigeria in recent time. The study interrogated the peace making effort in light of Islamic concept of peace and peace-making process in the Qur’an. Also, the study examined the barrage banditry and kidnapping in northwest region of Nigeria from 2019 to 2021 with a critical reflection on Gumi’s peacemaking initiative. The research method utilized in the study was descriptive research method. The method describe the nature of peace and process of peace making in Islam as well as Gumi’s peace making effort across the northwest states in Nigeria. It was discovered that peace-making, peace-building and peace-keeping are major processes through which peace can be sustain in Islam. However, in settling dispute between two parties, peace-making often involve a certain punishment on the party that doeth wrong. Meanwhile, the peace-making effort of Gumi is unrealistic. Propagating peaceful dialogue and amnesty as a condition for justice, considering the atrocity committed by these bandits, is unnatural. Therefore, it was concluded that peace can only be achieved through normalcy, whereby those who do wrong take full responsibility for their wrong acts.

Identification of the 144,000 and the Great Multitude: Are They Identical or Different?

( Ha Rim Ji ),( Sang-hoon Jee ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2022 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.26 No.-

In describing the 144,000 sealed saints and the “great multitude” in Revelation 7, John seems to hint at a distinction between God’s end-time saints. The speculation regarding identity of the 144,000 sealed saints and the “great multitude” in Revelation 7 have divided many theologians and bible scholars, even within Seventh-day Adventism. Rather than claiming that the 144,000 sealed saints and the “great multitude” of Revelation 7 are of different types or classes of God’s end-time saints, the purpose of this study is to prove that the 144,000 sealed saints and the “great multitude” of Revelation 7 are a single group of God’s end-time saints, portrayed in two different stages of their history and in their different roles. To prove that they are an identical group of God’s end-time saints, this study was done in three levels: (1) a study of the descriptions and actions of the 144,000 and the great multitude, (2) a study of the actions of the 144,000 and the great multitude in Revelation 7, and (3) a study of the literary feature and purpose of Revelation 7. By proving that the 144,000 sealed saints and the “great multitude” in Revelation 7 are an identical group of God’s end-time saints, this study is significant as it confirms the idea that the blood of Christ presents all the saved people of God equally and without any distinction before God.

The Significance of Mary’s Anointing in John 12:1-8

( Dong Bin Seo ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2022 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.26 No.-

This paper deals with an event in John 12, the transition from Jesus' public ministry to Jesus' suffering. At the evening banquet prepared to give thanks for the resurrection of Lazarus, Mary anointed Jesus' feet with perfume and wiped them with her hair. Analyzing the five main characters of this pericope is very important for understanding the text. In particular, the author uses several literary techniques to maximize the message of the text. First, the silence of Mary, second, the stark contrast between Judas Iscariot and Mary, and third, the direct interpretation of Jesus makes it possible to grasp the author's emphasis. Since Mary Bethany's humble and devoted service carries an important message that needs to be conveyed wherever the gospel is preached, it will be helpful to understand the message accurately through a literary analysis of the text.

Bayān al-Naskh in the Qurʾān: An Interpretive Device

( Youssry Guirguis ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2022 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.26 No.-

Abrogation (al-Naskh) has been a subject of various studies by Muslim scholars throughout the centuries. Muslim scholars not only emphasized the study of al-Naskh but also highlighted its science. Abrogation is given in the Arabic language (Fī al-Lughah) for two meanings. One of them is transferring and copying (al-naql), and it includes abrogation of the book, which is to convert information from one book to another book. The second is the termination and modification (al- Taḥwīl) of something, it is said that the sun abrogated the shadow, i.e., it took it away and nullified it. Abrogation in terminology means the removal of what has been established from the legal ruling by a lax discourse. The notion of abrogation was initially used to refer to Qurʾānic verses that were removed from its corpus. It is a method of exegesis that was introduced by Muslim scholars to bring reconciliation between contradictory verses in the Qurʾān. Muslim scholars see the concept of al-Naskh as a perfect mechanism that reflects Allāh’s omnipotence. He has the power to change any ruling with another at any point. It should be noted that the idea of al-Naskh does not bring any changes in Allāh’s knowledge. The word abrogation in Islam is the removal of a previous legal ruling, with legal evidence that is later than it. It can be defined as the “removal of an Islamic command by a legally valid argument” (Al-Zurqani, 1998, vol. 2, p. 460). It should be stressed that there are different kinds of al-Naskh in the Qurʾān. This paper discusses the idea of Bayān al-Naskh as an interpretive device, its different categories, and its benefits.

Social Justice in Daniel 4

Sung Ik Kim 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2009 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.1 No.-

This research deals with the main message of Dan 4, social justice, one of the universal implications of the sovereignty of God. Daniel told the heathen king that God cares for oppressed people, even in foreign lands, whether they are believers or not. Daniel then preached justice to one who was responsible for social justice in the heathen kingdom (vs. 27). Through this study on the subject of social justice in Dan 4, it can be concluded that God requires a heathen king to dispense justice. The story highlights two aspects of God`s universal rule. First, every person is required to honor a vertical relationship between God and humans, by recognizing God as Creator and Savior and by obeying His law. Second, every person must also honor horizontal relationships between human beings by treating people kindly and lovingly as brothers and sisters.

Understanding of the “Son of God” and the “Son of the Most High” in 4Q246

( Kyu In Han ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2022 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.26 No.-

Since 4Q246 was released to the world, there has been a debate over who the “son of God” and “the son of the Most High” in the text are. These arguments are divided into three main categories: the first is the claim that the “son of God” refers to foreign forces or foreign kings who persecuted Jews, the second is the evil spiritual being or Belial that appears at the end, and the third is the apocalyptic Jewish Messiah related to the Bible. This study examines the reasons why the “son of God” in 4Q246 cannot refer to a foreign power, a foreign king, or an evil spirit being, and investigates that this being represents the Messiah in the Bible. As 4Q246 itself speaks about the identity and work of the “son of God”, it is necessary to analyze the sentence structure of the text. When analyzing sentence structure, this study intends to approach the text with the chiasmus method. And it is necessary to prove how the identity and work of the “son of God” revealed based on this method can be harmonized with the documents of the Second Temple period related to the Messiah. This is because 4Q246 was written in the Second Temple period, and people at that time documented their expectations and hopes for the Messiah and His work. In addition, this study intends to analyze the Qumran documents related to Belial to demonstrate that the “son of God” cannot be referred to Belial, an evil spirit being who appears in the end times. If the results of this study are properly produced, 4Q246 would be an important document supporting the continuity of the Old and New Testament in the Messianic thought associated with the title the “son of God”.

A Preacher`s Language: Athletic Imageries in 1Cor 9:24-27

( Dong-gee Lyu ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2015 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.11 No.-

The apostle Paul, in his letters, likes to use athletic imageries to apply and illustrate Christian responsibility. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, by using the imageries of athletic games and the competitors of Isthmian games at Corinth, Paul describes his own effort and endurance as a missionary, and urges his readers to follow his example in self-control and discipline. Likewise, the preachers and Bible teachers of the twenty-first century also have to know their audience first, and may well use language and ideas from their own everyday life that are familiar to them.

Mirroring Corruption Epidemic in Nigeria via the Biblical Lens: The Role of the Church

( Kolawole Oladotun Paul ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2020 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.22 No.-

Undeniably, the menace of corruption is perceived to have eaten deep into several phases of nations of the world; meanwhile, Nigeria is not an exception. The scope of this study is channeled basically towards the Nigerian context. The reality and actuality of corruption in Nigeria nation suggests that Nigeria still retains its popular known notch as the ‘giant of Africa’, being shortchanged for ‘giant of corruption’. Although, it can be argued that Nigeria is not the most corrupt country in Africa; its uniqueness being part of the corrupt countries is obviously glaring. It is not in any way an overstatement to say that corruption is the middle-name of Nigeria itself; with the fact that there seems to be no dailies in Nigeria media without a trending issue on corruption. With several religions in Nigeria (Islam, Christianity, African Religion); it is logical to ask why do corruption still prevails? Although ‘corruption’ is not a system of belief, it persists as a trending entity with many devotees, followers and disciples, having ingrained their mindset that the nation cannot function properly without corruption. The observed menace spurred the interest of this study, with specific attention to the Christian perspective. Christianity is one of the prevailing religious movements in Nigeria; therefore, the sphere of this research is in the Christian direction; how the Church can step in to help the messy situation. The temple of God (which is the Church) must be clean to restore the sanctity of the society. Observably, several Christians and Church leaders are with silence-syndrome approach and standing aloof mechanism to eradicate corruption; but worse is the case in the country. The fact that abstinence from secular activities (while trying to uphold Christian values as against corruption) is of no good effect is glaring; therefore, this research posits that the Church must exhaust all her platforms in speaking against corruption with Church leaders and Christians as worthy ambassadors of the Church.

The History and Operations of Livingspring Chapel International, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

( Falaye T. A ) 삼육대학교 선교와사회문제연구소 2016 Asia-Africa Journal of Mission and Ministry(AAMM) Vol.14 No.-

The paper examined the history and operations of the Livingspring Chapel International Church based in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The Church was founded by Pastor Femi Immanuel. The operations of the church are patterned towards the Pentecostal Movement. The paper considered the immense contributions of the church to Christendom in Nigeria. It also considered some of the challenges faced by the church. The paper employed historical and sociological research design. It is recommended that an understanding of the mode of operations of the church would give a clearer view of the Pentecostal paradigm. This marks the wild contemporary move of Pentecostalism in Nigeria.