Browsing by Author "Takore, Zachariah Bulus"

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    A gamut of etiological and retributive justice in the Decalogue
    (Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University, 2019) Takore, Zachariah Bulus
    Human sinfulness and divine retribution is evident in the Old Testament from patriarchal narratives to the prophets. Giving an objective verdict serves as a corrective measure upon which a wrong doer maintains dignity and fairness. Though punishing children for the sins of their parents raises a question of injustice. This article provides reasons and clarifies the theology of divine justice as a method of administering judgement upon both an individual and a collective group. Justice may range from the law that governs the society and how it’s interpreted in administering the law of the people. In this case, it is either upon an individual or collectively on a group; thus just as God judges an individual that is how he judges people corporately. Retribution then depends on the method rendered at a time, for he disciplines the one he loves to help re-direct them towards his purpose for their life.
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    “Sin of the Fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation” : an appraisal of Exodus 20:5 and Deuteronomy 5:9 in relation to an African Theological understanding of original sin
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03) Takore, Zachariah Bulus; Bosman, Hendrik; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Old and New Testament.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although the second commandment takes a stand against idolatry, it raises the issue of sin of the father being transferred upon the children to the third and fourth generation as a form of divine retribution. The first chapter presents the hypothesis that the Decalogue has provided a primary literary context for comparing two versions of it. Social rhetorical analysis was applied as a multidimensional methodology to appraise both texts for their relevance in Africa. Chapter Two presents a research survey on sin and original sin. Comparison of both concepts revealed that sin of the fathers upon the children is a method of indicating original sin. Just as one man’s sin affects all, sin of the fathers also affects their children. The ancient treaty proposed that one is blessed on the condition that one obeys, and cursed or punished for sin. This is traceable in the Decalogue and has been adopted among the Tyap in the southern Kaduna context, in the view that what affects one, affects all, whether that be dignity or shame. Africans believe that those who obey will be venerated as ancestors, and enjoy a mark of inter-generational honour from the ancestor to the living. The third and fourth chapters appraise the Decalogue using social rhetorical analysis. Chapter Three focused on Deuteronomy Five while Chapter Four was on Exodus 20. These chapters provided the literary context for comparing and analysing the concept of sin of the fathers upon the children. I argued that the covenant context fits the first Decalogue and the ancient treaty context, while the holiness context fits the second Decalogue and the Second Temple era. The theory of corporate and individual responsibilities was applied in an appraisal of sin of the fathers for African understanding of original sin. In the final chapter and conclusion, I argue for the etiological nature of sin and the reasons for its continuation across generations of humanity. This research discovered that divine justice was not administered first corporately and later individually, as alleged by Ezekiel and Jeremiah; one form did not exist before the other (dispensationally). This study concludes that both responsibilities co-existed. Where scholars like Miller, Propp, Dozeman, Kaminsky, Duke and others were implicit, I have argued explicitly for the co-existence of corporate and individual responsibility. The two existed side by side and were applied simultaneously. This finding regarding the co-existence of both forms of divine retribution is the contribution of this thesis to Old Testament biblical research. In like manner, the Sabbath co-existed in both contexts; one did not replace the other. While Exodus/liberation served as motivation for the Sabbath in the covenant context, creation served as the motivation of the Sabbath in the priestly context. The priestly-holiness context influenced the Second Temple period; and without holiness, one can neither see God nor relate with him or enter the temple to worship God. The Sabbath identity of the Israelites was renewed by the theology of creation. Creation gave access to all human beings, including Africans from southern Kaduna, to participate in the worship of God.