Francis Adelabu | Pontifical Biblical Institute (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Francis Adelabu

Bigard Theological Studies, 2024

Humanity has often longed to exceed her boundaries and explore the world outside herself. The cur... more Humanity has often longed to exceed her boundaries and explore the world outside herself. The curiosity of human persons has led them to exert their rational and spiritual capabilities to comprehend that which is not immediately localized within the confines of their control and reasoning. The limited nature of human finitude has forced humanity to seek the infinite. God, however, reaches out to reveal of himself to human persons. This revelation and communication occur in various ways, including intermediaries who speak on behalf of God. The proliferation of these intermediaries raises the puzzle on how to determine their authenticity or otherwise. Deut 18:15-22 remains a rare scriptural passage which explicitly states the criterion for identifying genuine prophets. The essay examines, in a close reading, the injunctions of Deut 18:15-22 and employs it as a springboard for a critical evaluation of Christianity in contemporary Africa. The essay also seeks to explore the implications of false prophecy for Christianity today, especially in the African context.

Treasures Old and New, 2023

Thrice in the Hebrew Bible, the Ephraimites contend with persons in positions of authority. Thoug... more Thrice in the Hebrew Bible, the Ephraimites contend with persons in positions of authority. Though among the least in the tribes of Israel, the Ephraimites refuse to be neglected in the process of decision-making and execution at the national level. While the first Ephraimite contention is placated with diplomatic persuasions, the second turns violent and the third diffuses both delay and desertion at the end. The various stages of placation in the first and third Ephraimite contentions, and the discontinuity model in the second, provide a springboard in this essay to examine, more closely, the concept of synodality, especially as a theme of the 2021-2024 ecclesial synod. The article examines the interplay between the individual and the community, the importance of unity and the proper process of unification, the means of resolving conflicting ideas, and the importance of eschewing violent and coerced conglomeration of opposing ideas and ideals. The concepts of communion, participation, and mission are also discussed with careful attention to the place of listening in the whole process.

Agora: A Journal of Philosophical and Theological Studies, 2022

At the centre of formation to the sacred priesthood is a human person. A major goal of the whole ... more At the centre of formation to the sacred priesthood is a human person. A major goal of the whole process of formation to the sacred priesthood is to facilitate a Christlike human(e) person who will lead other human persons to God as he (the formandus) also manifests the values and principles he hopes to encourage in the faithful. Paradoxically, apart from the crisis of faith which plagues our world today, human mores, values and character are among the foremost challenges in the formation to the sacred priesthood. The qualities of respect for persons and principles, sincerity of purpose, selflessness, commitment to a worthy goal, sense of community, tolerance and transparency, right judgement and discretion are in dire demand. Gen 1:26 gives the fundamental of the identity of the human person preparing to become a priest. What does it mean to be made in the 1 E 6 3 elem (image) and d e mut (likeness) of God? Are these two Hebrew morphemes the same? What are their implications for the selfunderstanding of the formandus and a better comprehension of his future flock? The morphological, lexical and patristic study of these Hebrew morphemes and their syntactical connection with their immediate and wider context constitute the crux of this scribal enterprise.

Bodija Journal, 2022

In the midst of today's ecological and environmental crises that threaten human life and the exis... more In the midst of today's ecological and environmental crises that threaten human life and the existence of the planet, many are striving to redefine the relationship between humans and nature. The ecological and environmental crisis is the result of complex problems such as industrial pollution, exploitation of natural resources, plastic waste, environmental contamination, aggressive deforestation and the effects of the use of heavy military weapons. The backside of the crisis is related to the moral and ethical problems arising from parasitical anthropocentrism, greed and recklessness. It has been argued in some quarters that Christian tradition influenced an anthropological anti-ecological approach. The purpose of this essay is to reexamine biblical anthropocentrism in the light of Psalm 8 in order to restate the biblical perspective of the proper relationship between man and nature. This task will be carried out through a lively interaction with the papal encyclical on care for creation, Laudato Si', in a bid to further emphasize the living relation between Sacred Scriptures and the magisterium.

The book of Lamentations has been noted in biblical scholarship for its peculiar acrostic structu... more The book of Lamentations has been noted in biblical scholarship for its peculiar acrostic structure, a feature which makes the book unique in the OT in terms of style and literary unity. Taking inspiration from the possible meaning(s) of this structure, coupled with a detailed analysis of the central verses (vv. 22-24) of the middle poem (Lam 3), this author seeks to juxtapose the beacon of hope in the midst of lament for the destruction of Jerusalem with the experience of the Nigerian nation in the wake of religio-political terrorism and chronic system failure. God’s proofs of mercy (ḥeseḏ) and respect for law and (acrostic) order are put forward in the final analysis as divine and human panacea, just like faith and reason, in rekindling the light of hope for the nation.

This is a brief comparison of the hermeneutics of Rashi and Bereshit Rabba, taking their interpre... more This is a brief comparison of the hermeneutics of Rashi and Bereshit Rabba, taking their interpretations of Genesis 22 as a model.

30 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ❐συνελάλουν αὐτῷ, οἵτινες ἦσαν Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας, 31 οἳ ὀφθέντες ἐν δόξῃ ἔλ... more 30 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ❐συνελάλουν αὐτῷ, οἵτινες ἦσαν Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας, 31 οἳ ὀφθέντες ἐν δόξῃ ἔλεγον τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ, ἣν ❐ἤμελλεν πληροῦν ❑ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ. 32 ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἦσαν βεβαρημένοι ὕπνῳ· διαγρηγορήσαντες δὲ εἶδον τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς δύο ἄνδρας τοὺς συνεστῶτας αὐτῷ. 33 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαχωρίζεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν ❍ὁ Πέτρος πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν· ❐ἐπιστάτα, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι, ✕καὶ ποιήσωμεν✖ σκηνὰς τρεῖς, μίαν σοὶ καὶ μίαν Μωϋσεῖ καὶ μίαν Ἠλίᾳ, μὴ εἰδὼς ὃ λέγει. 34 ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος ἐγένετο νεφέλη καὶ ❐ἐπεσκίαζεν αὐτούς· ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ ἐν τῷ ✕εἰσελθεῖν αὐτοὺς✖ εἰς τὴν νεφέλην. 35 καὶ φωνὴ ❐ἐγένετο ἐκ τῆς νεφέλης λέγουσα· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ❑ἐκλελεγμένος, αὐτοῦ ἀκούετε. 36 καὶ ✗ ἐν τῷ γενέσθαι τὴν φωνὴν εὑρέθη Ἰησοῦς μόνος. ✕καὶ αὐτοὶ✖ ἐσίγησαν καὶ οὐδενὶ ἀπήγγειλαν ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ❍οὐδὲν ὧν ἑώρακαν.

Drafts by Francis Adelabu

Books by Francis Adelabu

Treasures Old and New: Celebrating Three Great Men of Bodija, 2023

A collection of Philosophical and Theological essays written by various scholars and experts in h... more A collection of Philosophical and Theological essays written by various scholars and experts in honour of three fathers of the faith, episcopal alumni of Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria, namely, Their Excellencies Anthony Gbuji, Julius Adelakun, and Francis Alonge who celebrated fifty years of episcopal ordination between 2023 and 2024.

Bigard Theological Studies, 2024

Humanity has often longed to exceed her boundaries and explore the world outside herself. The cur... more Humanity has often longed to exceed her boundaries and explore the world outside herself. The curiosity of human persons has led them to exert their rational and spiritual capabilities to comprehend that which is not immediately localized within the confines of their control and reasoning. The limited nature of human finitude has forced humanity to seek the infinite. God, however, reaches out to reveal of himself to human persons. This revelation and communication occur in various ways, including intermediaries who speak on behalf of God. The proliferation of these intermediaries raises the puzzle on how to determine their authenticity or otherwise. Deut 18:15-22 remains a rare scriptural passage which explicitly states the criterion for identifying genuine prophets. The essay examines, in a close reading, the injunctions of Deut 18:15-22 and employs it as a springboard for a critical evaluation of Christianity in contemporary Africa. The essay also seeks to explore the implications of false prophecy for Christianity today, especially in the African context.

Treasures Old and New, 2023

Thrice in the Hebrew Bible, the Ephraimites contend with persons in positions of authority. Thoug... more Thrice in the Hebrew Bible, the Ephraimites contend with persons in positions of authority. Though among the least in the tribes of Israel, the Ephraimites refuse to be neglected in the process of decision-making and execution at the national level. While the first Ephraimite contention is placated with diplomatic persuasions, the second turns violent and the third diffuses both delay and desertion at the end. The various stages of placation in the first and third Ephraimite contentions, and the discontinuity model in the second, provide a springboard in this essay to examine, more closely, the concept of synodality, especially as a theme of the 2021-2024 ecclesial synod. The article examines the interplay between the individual and the community, the importance of unity and the proper process of unification, the means of resolving conflicting ideas, and the importance of eschewing violent and coerced conglomeration of opposing ideas and ideals. The concepts of communion, participation, and mission are also discussed with careful attention to the place of listening in the whole process.

Agora: A Journal of Philosophical and Theological Studies, 2022

At the centre of formation to the sacred priesthood is a human person. A major goal of the whole ... more At the centre of formation to the sacred priesthood is a human person. A major goal of the whole process of formation to the sacred priesthood is to facilitate a Christlike human(e) person who will lead other human persons to God as he (the formandus) also manifests the values and principles he hopes to encourage in the faithful. Paradoxically, apart from the crisis of faith which plagues our world today, human mores, values and character are among the foremost challenges in the formation to the sacred priesthood. The qualities of respect for persons and principles, sincerity of purpose, selflessness, commitment to a worthy goal, sense of community, tolerance and transparency, right judgement and discretion are in dire demand. Gen 1:26 gives the fundamental of the identity of the human person preparing to become a priest. What does it mean to be made in the 1 E 6 3 elem (image) and d e mut (likeness) of God? Are these two Hebrew morphemes the same? What are their implications for the selfunderstanding of the formandus and a better comprehension of his future flock? The morphological, lexical and patristic study of these Hebrew morphemes and their syntactical connection with their immediate and wider context constitute the crux of this scribal enterprise.

Bodija Journal, 2022

In the midst of today's ecological and environmental crises that threaten human life and the exis... more In the midst of today's ecological and environmental crises that threaten human life and the existence of the planet, many are striving to redefine the relationship between humans and nature. The ecological and environmental crisis is the result of complex problems such as industrial pollution, exploitation of natural resources, plastic waste, environmental contamination, aggressive deforestation and the effects of the use of heavy military weapons. The backside of the crisis is related to the moral and ethical problems arising from parasitical anthropocentrism, greed and recklessness. It has been argued in some quarters that Christian tradition influenced an anthropological anti-ecological approach. The purpose of this essay is to reexamine biblical anthropocentrism in the light of Psalm 8 in order to restate the biblical perspective of the proper relationship between man and nature. This task will be carried out through a lively interaction with the papal encyclical on care for creation, Laudato Si', in a bid to further emphasize the living relation between Sacred Scriptures and the magisterium.

The book of Lamentations has been noted in biblical scholarship for its peculiar acrostic structu... more The book of Lamentations has been noted in biblical scholarship for its peculiar acrostic structure, a feature which makes the book unique in the OT in terms of style and literary unity. Taking inspiration from the possible meaning(s) of this structure, coupled with a detailed analysis of the central verses (vv. 22-24) of the middle poem (Lam 3), this author seeks to juxtapose the beacon of hope in the midst of lament for the destruction of Jerusalem with the experience of the Nigerian nation in the wake of religio-political terrorism and chronic system failure. God’s proofs of mercy (ḥeseḏ) and respect for law and (acrostic) order are put forward in the final analysis as divine and human panacea, just like faith and reason, in rekindling the light of hope for the nation.

This is a brief comparison of the hermeneutics of Rashi and Bereshit Rabba, taking their interpre... more This is a brief comparison of the hermeneutics of Rashi and Bereshit Rabba, taking their interpretations of Genesis 22 as a model.

30 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ❐συνελάλουν αὐτῷ, οἵτινες ἦσαν Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας, 31 οἳ ὀφθέντες ἐν δόξῃ ἔλ... more 30 καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ❐συνελάλουν αὐτῷ, οἵτινες ἦσαν Μωϋσῆς καὶ Ἠλίας, 31 οἳ ὀφθέντες ἐν δόξῃ ἔλεγον τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ, ἣν ❐ἤμελλεν πληροῦν ❑ἐν Ἰερουσαλήμ. 32 ὁ δὲ Πέτρος καὶ οἱ σὺν αὐτῷ ἦσαν βεβαρημένοι ὕπνῳ· διαγρηγορήσαντες δὲ εἶδον τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοὺς δύο ἄνδρας τοὺς συνεστῶτας αὐτῷ. 33 καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ διαχωρίζεσθαι αὐτοὺς ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ εἶπεν ❍ὁ Πέτρος πρὸς τὸν Ἰησοῦν· ❐ἐπιστάτα, καλόν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς ὧδε εἶναι, ✕καὶ ποιήσωμεν✖ σκηνὰς τρεῖς, μίαν σοὶ καὶ μίαν Μωϋσεῖ καὶ μίαν Ἠλίᾳ, μὴ εἰδὼς ὃ λέγει. 34 ταῦτα δὲ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος ἐγένετο νεφέλη καὶ ❐ἐπεσκίαζεν αὐτούς· ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ ἐν τῷ ✕εἰσελθεῖν αὐτοὺς✖ εἰς τὴν νεφέλην. 35 καὶ φωνὴ ❐ἐγένετο ἐκ τῆς νεφέλης λέγουσα· οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ❑ἐκλελεγμένος, αὐτοῦ ἀκούετε. 36 καὶ ✗ ἐν τῷ γενέσθαι τὴν φωνὴν εὑρέθη Ἰησοῦς μόνος. ✕καὶ αὐτοὶ✖ ἐσίγησαν καὶ οὐδενὶ ἀπήγγειλαν ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις ❍οὐδὲν ὧν ἑώρακαν.

Treasures Old and New: Celebrating Three Great Men of Bodija, 2023

A collection of Philosophical and Theological essays written by various scholars and experts in h... more A collection of Philosophical and Theological essays written by various scholars and experts in honour of three fathers of the faith, episcopal alumni of Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary, Bodija, Ibadan, Nigeria, namely, Their Excellencies Anthony Gbuji, Julius Adelakun, and Francis Alonge who celebrated fifty years of episcopal ordination between 2023 and 2024.