Contextualization of Eschatological Apocalypse of the Matthean Parabolic Pericope (Matt. 25: 31-46) in NKST Indigenous Christian Songs: An Appraisal of Paul Ityavgyer Fate.

By Abel Aor Inyaregh

Abstract

This paper is set out from its point of departure to address the act of contextualizing the gospel to enhance absolute assimilation whereas it erodes the gospel of its foreign garb. The gospel is Westernized and therefore not properly engrained in African culture nor accustomed to African way of life. The soloist, Fate, though unschooled lifted Jesus’ parable of the sheep and the goats from the Jewish setting and transmitted it into Tiv culture appropriately. The study adopts contextual analysis to examine Fate’s song, expressed and embedded in the NKST big maiden Hymn Book number 64 structured in 8 stanzas. NKST Indigenous Christian poets use songs, proverbs and psalms as evangelical tool to intrinsically contextualize or localize the biblical message to their corresponding communities. The impact of the songs rendered in Tiv culture is unimaginable. This paper recommends among others the act of presenting the biblical message in African way.

Keywords: Contextualization, Biblical message, African, Culture, Western and NKST Song

Author’s Bio

Abel Aor Inyaregh, Ph.D
Biblical Studies: New Testament
Nigerian Reformed Calvinist
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN),
aorinyaregh1@gmail.com, ainyaregh@noun.edu.ng