Isaac K . Mbabazi | UNIVERSITE SHALOM DE BUNIA (original) (raw)
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Papers by Isaac K . Mbabazi
Christianity and renewal - interdisciplinary studies, 2020
African Pentecostalism is receiving enormous scholarly attention because of its drastic expansion... more African Pentecostalism is receiving enormous scholarly attention because of its drastic expansion and its public influence, especially on the questions of moral purity and ethical behaviour. This study explores how Congolese Pentecostal churches have perceived the issue of gender and sexual orientation in their attempt to understand, interpret and interact with African realities. The aim is to identify and describe the reading that modern Congolese Pentecostals hold, and the ground for their stand.
This thesis explores the theme of interpersonal forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew and argues t... more This thesis explores the theme of interpersonal forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew and argues that the idea of interpersonal forgiveness is quite central to this Gospel. Its main foci are on demonstrating the centrality of this theme in the Gospel and understanding the nature of interpersonal forgiveness in it. It proposes five sets of evidence in support of this claim. First is the concept of reciprocity and the link between mercy and forgiveness, together with the link between reluctance in the praxis of them and judgement. Second is the emphasis on the offended person?s responsibility in forgiving and the connection of this with the concept of spiritually mature and immature Christians. Third is a reinforcement of the forgiveness concept by the use of related concepts. Fourth is the strategic rhetorical positioning of interpersonal forgiveness texts and related passages within the Matthean text. Fifth is the proportion these texts occupy in the Sermon on the Mount and the Commu...
Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, Nairobi, Kenya , 2011
This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by exploring the concept of Christians as ... more This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by exploring the concept of Christians as members of God’s royal family in Matthew’s Gospel. It argues that the first Evangelist views Jesus’ followers of all times as members of a ‘royal family’. This is made clear through passages in the Gospel that use the royal family membership language, a fact to which no attention seems to have been paid so far in Matthean studies. Engaging in the study of such a topic would involve discussing aspects of theism and of Christology in the Gospel of Matthew. It is not my intention to engage in the debate about complex issues related to Christology in the first Gospel attempting to address, for example, the question of whether or not Jesus ‘imagined himself to be the Davidic Messiah, or envisaged himself as the eschatological Son of Man, or thought himself to be God’s Son in a singular sense.’
Others have dealt with this quite thoroughly. In an attempt to make sense of how Matthew views the followers of Jesus, conceptual analysis will be used. It will be used to explain the concept of Christian royal family membership within Matthean texts related to the subject under scrutiny.
Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, Nairobi, Kenya, 2011
This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by reconsidering the debate on the Jewish ... more This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by reconsidering the debate on the Jewish background to interpersonal forgiveness in Matthew. It proposes that Sirach 28:1-7 is not only a possible Jewish background to the parable of the unmerciful debtor of Matthew 18:23-35, as has been argued, but also to the teaching in Matthew 6:12, 14-15. This claim rests on five underlying concepts shared by both the Matthean and Sirach passages: conditionality (ie, a condition to be met before we can be forgiven); reciprocity
(ie, our forgiveness is related to our willingness to forgive); the link between mercy and forgiveness; reluctance to practise mercy and forgiveness; and God's judgement on those who refuse to practise mercy and forgiveness. There is also a link that exists between these first two concepts in both the Matthean and Sirach passages. And there is a further, complex link that exists between the final three concepts listed above, a link that can be seen in both Matthew and Sirach.
Revue Théologique Shalom, Université Shalom de Bunia, DRC, 2019
Romains 13.1-7 est un texte central et le plus direct du Nouveau Testament sur la relation entre ... more Romains 13.1-7 est un texte central et le plus direct du Nouveau Testament sur la relation entre le chrétien et les gouvernants. Sa pertinence est qu'il présente un argument cohérent et bien construit sur la relation gouvernant-gouverné, ou vice versa. Malheureusement, certains gouvernants africains, et pour la plupart des tyrans, l'utilisent souvent abusivement pour justifier régime totalitaire, obligeant tout le monde de leur obéir malgré leurs bavures. Nous arguons que Romaisn 13.1-7 est évidemment un appel à se soumettre aux gouvernants; mais il constitue également une sévère rétrogradation des gouvernants arrogants qui s'auto-divinisent. Ce texte est donc un ébranlement du totalitarisme, plutôt que son renforcement.
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, Switzerland, 2020
The issue of gender and sexual orientation and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological d... more The issue of gender and sexual orientation and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological debate between Christian denominations in Africa and beyond. This study falls in the area of African Christianity, and particularly in that of African Pentecostalisms. It seeks to contribute to African Christianity by engaging the issue of gender and sexual orientation, and chiefly how this sexual phenomenon is perceived by Congolese Pentecostal churches of classical and neo-Pentecostal-Charismatic trends, as represented by their respective leaders.
Revue Théologique Shalom, Université Shalom de Bunia, DRC, 2018
L’homosexualité est un sujet d’un débat continu en Afrique contemporaine et au-delà. La présente ... more L’homosexualité est un sujet d’un débat continu en Afrique contemporaine et au-delà. La présente réflexion explore les homosexualités masculine et féminine dans les sociétés congolaises traditionnelles, dans la perspective de discerner leur caractère et leurs fonctions au sein desdites sociétés. Il s’agit donc de découvrir si ce concept (ou des concepts connexes) était connu, et si le comportement y afférent existaient au sein desdites sociétés comme un système de valeurs ou normes et comment il était perçu par ces sociétés. S’imprégner de cela est essentiel pour la mission dans la mesure où les informations recueillies serviraient de background à l’étude de ce phénomène en RD Congo en relation avec le christianisme congolais.
Christianity and renewal - interdisciplinary studies, 2020
African Pentecostalism is receiving enormous scholarly attention because of its drastic expansion... more African Pentecostalism is receiving enormous scholarly attention because of its drastic expansion and its public influence, especially on the questions of moral purity and ethical behaviour. This study explores how Congolese Pentecostal churches have perceived the issue of gender and sexual orientation in their attempt to understand, interpret and interact with African realities. The aim is to identify and describe the reading that modern Congolese Pentecostals hold, and the ground for their stand.
This thesis explores the theme of interpersonal forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew and argues t... more This thesis explores the theme of interpersonal forgiveness in the Gospel of Matthew and argues that the idea of interpersonal forgiveness is quite central to this Gospel. Its main foci are on demonstrating the centrality of this theme in the Gospel and understanding the nature of interpersonal forgiveness in it. It proposes five sets of evidence in support of this claim. First is the concept of reciprocity and the link between mercy and forgiveness, together with the link between reluctance in the praxis of them and judgement. Second is the emphasis on the offended person?s responsibility in forgiving and the connection of this with the concept of spiritually mature and immature Christians. Third is a reinforcement of the forgiveness concept by the use of related concepts. Fourth is the strategic rhetorical positioning of interpersonal forgiveness texts and related passages within the Matthean text. Fifth is the proportion these texts occupy in the Sermon on the Mount and the Commu...
Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, Nairobi, Kenya , 2011
This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by exploring the concept of Christians as ... more This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by exploring the concept of Christians as members of God’s royal family in Matthew’s Gospel. It argues that the first Evangelist views Jesus’ followers of all times as members of a ‘royal family’. This is made clear through passages in the Gospel that use the royal family membership language, a fact to which no attention seems to have been paid so far in Matthean studies. Engaging in the study of such a topic would involve discussing aspects of theism and of Christology in the Gospel of Matthew. It is not my intention to engage in the debate about complex issues related to Christology in the first Gospel attempting to address, for example, the question of whether or not Jesus ‘imagined himself to be the Davidic Messiah, or envisaged himself as the eschatological Son of Man, or thought himself to be God’s Son in a singular sense.’
Others have dealt with this quite thoroughly. In an attempt to make sense of how Matthew views the followers of Jesus, conceptual analysis will be used. It will be used to explain the concept of Christian royal family membership within Matthean texts related to the subject under scrutiny.
Africa Journal of Evangelical Theology, Nairobi, Kenya, 2011
This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by reconsidering the debate on the Jewish ... more This essay seeks to contribute to Matthean scholarship by reconsidering the debate on the Jewish background to interpersonal forgiveness in Matthew. It proposes that Sirach 28:1-7 is not only a possible Jewish background to the parable of the unmerciful debtor of Matthew 18:23-35, as has been argued, but also to the teaching in Matthew 6:12, 14-15. This claim rests on five underlying concepts shared by both the Matthean and Sirach passages: conditionality (ie, a condition to be met before we can be forgiven); reciprocity
(ie, our forgiveness is related to our willingness to forgive); the link between mercy and forgiveness; reluctance to practise mercy and forgiveness; and God's judgement on those who refuse to practise mercy and forgiveness. There is also a link that exists between these first two concepts in both the Matthean and Sirach passages. And there is a further, complex link that exists between the final three concepts listed above, a link that can be seen in both Matthew and Sirach.
Revue Théologique Shalom, Université Shalom de Bunia, DRC, 2019
Romains 13.1-7 est un texte central et le plus direct du Nouveau Testament sur la relation entre ... more Romains 13.1-7 est un texte central et le plus direct du Nouveau Testament sur la relation entre le chrétien et les gouvernants. Sa pertinence est qu'il présente un argument cohérent et bien construit sur la relation gouvernant-gouverné, ou vice versa. Malheureusement, certains gouvernants africains, et pour la plupart des tyrans, l'utilisent souvent abusivement pour justifier régime totalitaire, obligeant tout le monde de leur obéir malgré leurs bavures. Nous arguons que Romaisn 13.1-7 est évidemment un appel à se soumettre aux gouvernants; mais il constitue également une sévère rétrogradation des gouvernants arrogants qui s'auto-divinisent. Ce texte est donc un ébranlement du totalitarisme, plutôt que son renforcement.
Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, Switzerland, 2020
The issue of gender and sexual orientation and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological d... more The issue of gender and sexual orientation and Christianity is a subject of ongoing theological debate between Christian denominations in Africa and beyond. This study falls in the area of African Christianity, and particularly in that of African Pentecostalisms. It seeks to contribute to African Christianity by engaging the issue of gender and sexual orientation, and chiefly how this sexual phenomenon is perceived by Congolese Pentecostal churches of classical and neo-Pentecostal-Charismatic trends, as represented by their respective leaders.
Revue Théologique Shalom, Université Shalom de Bunia, DRC, 2018
L’homosexualité est un sujet d’un débat continu en Afrique contemporaine et au-delà. La présente ... more L’homosexualité est un sujet d’un débat continu en Afrique contemporaine et au-delà. La présente réflexion explore les homosexualités masculine et féminine dans les sociétés congolaises traditionnelles, dans la perspective de discerner leur caractère et leurs fonctions au sein desdites sociétés. Il s’agit donc de découvrir si ce concept (ou des concepts connexes) était connu, et si le comportement y afférent existaient au sein desdites sociétés comme un système de valeurs ou normes et comment il était perçu par ces sociétés. S’imprégner de cela est essentiel pour la mission dans la mesure où les informations recueillies serviraient de background à l’étude de ce phénomène en RD Congo en relation avec le christianisme congolais.