Abel A . Alamu

Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary., Biblical Studies, Faculty Member

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I am an academic with an interest in Biblical Studies, Contextual Theology, Education and Social Standards.
Phone: +234 803 641 0325
Address: Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso

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Papers by Abel A . Alamu

A Model of Mercy in Role Definition Crisis: Making Sense of Martha's Leadership Service in Luke 10:38-42

American Journal of Biblical Theology, 2024

The difficulties associated with the uniquely Lukan story of Martha and Mary have engendered pere... more The difficulties associated with the uniquely Lukan story of Martha and Mary have engendered perennial debates till the modern time. However, one must accept that the story was significant to the early church. This paper presents a perspective which shows that the narrator of Luke uses the twin-the parable of the Good Samaritan and the Martha and Mary story in the form of a theory-practice model to teach hospitality and address crises about women's roles. Martha is the practical example of mercy Jesus recommends to the Lawyer whose question triggers the parable of the Good Samaritan. Martha's ministry of mercy from her means and her sedentary form of discipleship not only places her in some leadership position but also sets her up in the conflict of women's exact role in the Jesus movement. The problem Martha faces is that of anxiety occasioned by the withdrawal of support and recognition for her leadership, as epitomized by Mary. Knowing the significance of her leadership role in serving the Jesus movement and the importance of women's contribution within Christian communities, Martha seeks the continued recognition of her leadership and those of the women she represents. Contrary to Martha's expectation, Jesus and the narrator silenced her "essential" leadership role while Mary's withdrawal and silent listening to God's word is approved. How the narrator

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URBANISATION, ETHNICITY AND THE QUESTION OF THE NIGERIAN IDENTITY

International Research and Innovation Journal, 2024

Nigeria, as a developing nation, continues to experience urbanisation uniquely. The nature of Nig... more Nigeria, as a developing nation, continues to experience urbanisation uniquely. The nature of Nigeria's urbanisation, steeped in lack of industrialisation and high unemployment, aggravates the problem of ethnicity and the question of the Nigerian identity in the urban centres. Though the creation of Nigeria by the British Colonial Government as an amalgamation of diverse ethnic groups in one geographical space is the foundation of its intractable problems, it is inadequate to account for the country's current underdevelopment and poor social cohesion. Successive bad leadership has played a crucial role in the degeneration and predicament of the country. This paper assesses the issues of urbanisation, ethnicity and the question of the Nigerian identity. It contributes that while myriads of problems bedevil Nigeria, dishonesty and lack of the rule of law exemplified by the government and citizenry are their fundamental anchors. Therefore, a preoccupation with the values of honesty and the rule of law and the building of solid public institutions and infrastructures to transform Nigerian polity is indispensable. These would set the country on an all-encompassing path of progress and prosperity for all and facilitate the construction of the hitherto elusive Nigerian identity. Conflict theory is the theoretical framework for this paper, and the method adopted is historical analysis.

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Hospitality for the Truth in 3 John and Its Implications for Contemporary Christians

International Journal for Religious and Cultural Practice, 2025

Hospitality has been a veritable tool widely used to achieve certain purposes, good or bad in hum... more Hospitality has been a veritable tool widely used to achieve certain purposes, good or bad in human endeavours. It is a virtue Jesus enjoyed from different persons while on earth and recommends same. The church after him continues to use hospitality to alleviate people's suffering and support itinerant preachers and missionaries. This paper rhetorically analyses 3 John and suggests that the letter borders on the importance of this practice and the need to sustain it to support those who go about preaching the truth of the Gospel in the name of God. To achieve that purpose, the author of the letter juxtaposes two contradicting examples: first, those like Diotrephes who oppose the noble and sacrificial hospitality practice to support true preachers/missionaries, thereby causing division and weakening the church are authoritatively rebuked, and second, people like Gaius and Demetrius who exemplify that agelong tradition are strongly praised and endorsed. This analysis has serious implications for contemporary Christians. One implication is that Christians should generously support or provide hospitality to those preachers who preach the truth and walk in it. Also, those who offer hospitality to the preachers of the true Gospel are co-labourers with them because they partake in their work for the truth.

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Samaritan Compassion (Luke 10:25-37) and African Socioeconomic Problems

African Theological Journal of Church and Society, 2025

The worsening conditions of many African states have caught global attention for a very long time... more The worsening conditions of many African states have caught global attention for a very long time with no end in sight. It is concerning that oppressive leadership, which does not promote the common good of the populace, permeates the African landscape. This development has aggravated social disparity and discrimination and caused great havoc to the psyche and wellbeing of the African masses. However, the debacle results from a complex matrix; it is unacceptable to pin it solely on the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. With vast African resources, the term 'poor Africans' ought to be a misnomer. Thus, using a literary-critical approach, this paper presents the argument that imbibing the Samaritan's compassion can significantly address Africa's socioeconomic problems. Avoiding the pitfalls of the robbers, the priest, and the Levite, through a lifestyle of love and compassion in policies and programmes, will help mitigate African socioeconomic issues.

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Power-Purity Pneumatology for African Pentecostalism

African Theological Journal for Church and Society, 2025

Africa once again occupies a strategic place in the history of Christianity as one of its chief c... more Africa once again occupies a strategic place in the history of Christianity as one of its chief centres when the religion is somewhat receding in the West. This development is reminiscent of the pivotal role the continent had earlier played in the formative years of Christianity. Historical records show that places such as Alexandria, Carthage, Hippo and Ethiopia produced prominent Christian theologians of that time. As Christianity today grows in Africa, there is a noticeable increase in the influence of African Pentecostalism that is shaping African Christianity. However, the current growth of African Christianity has yet to translate into the widespread and holistic significance it exerted in the early centuries, as African Christianity still attracts the stereotype of being "a mile wide, but only one inch deep". Therefore, this paper employs historical analysis to present a powerpurity pneumatology to reinvigorate African Pentecostalism and, in turn, impact African Christianity generally.

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EXPLORING TRIALS THROUGH DIVINE PERSPECTIVE IN 1 PETER 1:6-7 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

MSI Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2025

Suffering is a perplexing reality which shows human vulnerability and complexity. This reality is... more Suffering is a perplexing reality which shows human vulnerability and complexity. This reality is reflected in the effects of suffering and how various observers have appropriated it in human history. One significant approach, especially by Christians to suffering, is using a divine perspective to appropriate it. In this regard, 1 Peter 1:6-7 offers this divine perspective, which reveals God's transformative purposes in adversity. This paper analyses the Petrine text to reflect its crucial first-century message on contemporary twenty-first-century struggles. The study shows that God uses painful experiences (suffering) as a sacred refinement process rather than a meaningless hardship. The paper focuses on the ironic command to "rejoice while in grief", a decidedly Christian approach to trials that acknowledges pain while affirming hope; the metallurgical metaphor of faith as "gold refined by fire", which establishes suffering as a divine purification process with eternal significance; and the eschatological framework, which shows how present trials prepare believers for Christ's return. The Greek terms δοκίμιον (proven genuineness) and πολυτιμότερον χρυσίου (more precious than gold) demonstrate the theological weight in Peter's argument. The paper offers practical help to Christians and seekers facing contemporary adversity in recognising God's sovereignty and purpose in suffering as they seek to alleviate it.

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INTERSECTION OF DISCIPLESHIP AND HOSPITALITY IN LUKE 14:12-15 AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR ADDRESSING SUFFERING IN AFRICA

IRASS Journal of Art, Humanities and Social Science, 2025

Suffering is a reality of human existence from time immemorial, changing form and severity from o... more Suffering is a reality of human existence from time immemorial, changing form and severity from one period, person, and location to another. The Scripture affirms this fact and presents God's desire to alleviate human suffering in diverse forms; it also reveals God's willingness to use human agents to achieve this alleviation. The incarnation story in the Gospel points in this direction, with Jesus generously setting the oppressed free and alleviating their sufferings. The paper uses a historical-grammatical method and argues that discipleship involves hospitality, which challenges transactional relationships and social hierarchies. In Luke 14:12-15, Jesus passes on the teaching of hospitality without expecting recompense from the beneficiaries to those who would follow him and accept the kingdom character he offers. In this teaching, there is a clear intersection of discipleship and hospitality where Jesus encourages his audience and followers to improve the condition of the marginalised. The text, set within Luke's broad Travel Narrative (9:51-19-27), is relevant to the African context of suffering, marked by poverty, disease, marginalisation, social injustice, civil unrest, and violence. Thus, Jesus' teaching calls for a renewed theological reflection and practical response that motivates Christians to take responsibility for improving the condition of the marginalised. Significantly, Jesus redefines hospitality from the generally accepted perspective of familiar and social bonds to inviting those who cannot reciprocate, such as the poor and indigent community members. The paper recommends that individual Christians and the African church do more of this kind of discipleship as a redemptive response to suffering.

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SERVANT LEADERSHIP IN NEHEMIAH 5:14-19 AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR ALLEVIATING SUFFERING IN AFRICA

IRASS Journal of Arts, Humanity and Social Science, 2025

Africa"s enormous human and natural resources and dynamic cultures are undeniable. Despite the re... more Africa"s enormous human and natural resources and dynamic cultures are undeniable. Despite the resources, however, many African countries continue to face intense suffering in the 21st century, which raises doubt about the continent and its people"s ability to manage its vast resources and change the tide positively. The untold suffering in Africa, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, stems from diverse causes, which include the legacy of oppression from the transAtlantic slave trade and colonialism, systemic poverty, bad leadership, political instability and corruption. This trajectory requires a radical shift to ethical and servant leadership that will transform the continent and its people, halt the prolonged suffering and provide adequate development and prosperity for all. Using the historical-grammatical method, this paper posits that Nehemiah"s servant leadership model can help African leaders lift their countries from suffering to well-being. Although Nehemiah"s model spreads across the entire book named after him, the particular text for this paper is in Nehemiah 5:14-19, which reflects the significant ethos that undergirds his role as governor during Jerusalem"s post-exilic reconstruction of the city wall. Nehemiah"s reverence for God, sacrifices, service, compassion for his people, justice and accountability form the nucleus of his servant leadership model, which brought relief and transformation to Jerusalem and its people. If African leaders at various levels and sectors imbibe this model, the continent and its people would witness an unprecedented reduction in suffering and move towards rapid development and shared prosperity. Although Africa has diverse contexts, the Nigerian experience somewhat represents several other countries in the sub-Saharan region. More research should focus on developing servant leadership theory from the sacred texts (Hebrew and Christian) for effective leadership in Africa.

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"Ephphatha": Recapturing Jesus' Voice For The Rights Of People With Disabilities ( Mark 7:31-37

International Journal of Religious and Cultural Practice , 2023

Different categories of people have variously viewed disabilities in humans through the millennia... more Different categories of people have variously viewed disabilities in humans through the millennia of human history and existence. From the ancient brutal killing of invalid children to the contemporary exclusion of disabled people in society, it is evident that disabled people are considered the scum of the earth. Though there have been some improvements in how people with disabilities are treated recently due to technological advancement, breakthroughs in medical science, and better theories and advocacies by experts in different fields, challenges still confront people with disabilities, particularly in the area of inclusion in society. Also, the recent noticeable improvement varies from one culture to another, with those nations with solid legal institutions taking the lead while developing countries are at the lowest ebb of the spectrum. It is indisputable that people with disabilities are among the vulnerable and marginalized in the society. Yet, children with disabilities form a significant part of this category of people. This fact requires proper attention to promoting the rights of people with disabilities. While doing this, we must give particular attention to children with disabilities as well. This paper adopts the historicalgrammatical method and stresses that Jesus' treatment of the deaf and mute man in Mark 7:31-37, through his pronouncement of "Ephphatha", sets the ground for promoting the rights of people with disabilities. It is instructive also to imbibe the attitude of those who brought the disabled man to Jesus.

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Raised from the Margin: The Transformative Story of the Blind Man and its Implications

American Journal of Biblical Theology, 2023

Although interpreters often note Luke's bias towards those at the margin of society in narrating ... more Although interpreters often note Luke's bias towards those at the margin of society in narrating Jesus' story with its miracles and drive for discipleship, the perspective is common to all evangelists. The inspiring story of the blind man in the synoptic tradition, which shows how Jesus' healing miracle leads to discipleship especially, proves this point. The story is a pragmatic description of the transformation of the blind man from destitution to discipleship, disability to ability, and immobility to mobility, following Jesus. Significantly, the narrative is set along the road in the full glare of everyone, thus having implications for individual and social experiences. This paper uses literary-critical method and presents that the blind man's faith, determination, resistance, and rejection of the "crowd," who shouted him down, and Jesus' compassion form the critical elements of transformation in the narrative. It follows that whenever the "weak" exercise firm faith in seeking transformation and the "strong"/"privileged" recognize the need and voice of the weak and help them, as exemplified by Jesus (contrary to the crowd) in the narrative, massive transformation becomes inevitable at both personal and social levels. The narrative has substantial implications for the personal and social transformation in the contemporary period. Therefore, faith which seeks transformation and rejects repression and a compassionate heart for those in trouble are highly needed to make a better person and society.

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Abel A . Alamu

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