Onesimus, Philemon's Runaway Slave Boy: a Brief Liberation-Theological

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Onesimus, Philemon's Runaway Slave Boy: a Brief Liberation-Theological HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies ISSN: (Online) 2072-8050, (Print) 0259-9422 Page 1 of 12 Original Research Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave boy: A brief liberation-theological exegesis of Philemon vv. 8–18 in the Nigerian context Authors: Slavery is one of the life’s most odious vices ever experienced in human history. Its abhorrent 1,2 Chris U. Manus nature is such that even those involved in the enslavement of others often detest the cruel Chibuzo I. Nwanguma1,2,3 phenomenon. The Nigerian ruling elite seems to feign ignorance of the hidden agenda of some Affiliations: modern slavers in their employment, but the Nigerian Christian population has come to 1 Department of Theology and acknowledge the ignoble policies that are slavery in disguise. Their cry for redemption has Religious Studies, National University of Lesotho, been by praying for Nigeria in distress, numerous crusades, and praising and worshiping Roma, Lesotho sessions dedicated to the Lord of peace and salvation. However, many people have become frustrated, as they feel these activities are tedious, outlandish and irrelevant. For them, action 2 Department of New is the master key to solving this national ordeal or hardship. This situation is exacerbated by Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of the ever-increasing tension and sour relationship between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria, Theology and Religion, where it is becoming apparent that there is no political will on the part of the ruling class to University of Pretoria, promote harmonious living, but that they would rather prefer to gloss over and pay lip service Pretoria, South Africa to the enslavement and oppression of the Christian population. The letter of Paul to Philemon, 3Department of Philosophy especially verses 8–18, is a relevant biblical resource that we find useful to address the situation. and Religion, Faculty of In order to do so, to the best of our ability, we have examined and outlined the undisputed and Humanities, Management underlying sensitive levels of religious intolerance, which are making Nigerian Christians to and Social Sciences, Mountain Top University, Ibafo, Nigeria become an endangered species in their fatherland. Indeed, the situation calls for an urgent deployment of the biblical principles that are rooted in, and derived from, the liberation- Research Project Registration: theological approach to doing contextual biblical exegesis. This study makes use of the Project Leader: Z. Dube Project Number: 13339746 liberation-theological approach to argue that liberation is ad rem and considered a relevant tool for this study. It was observed in this study that the current situation in Nigeria is nothing less Corresponding author: than slavery and can hardly be described otherwise. If slavery or enslavement of any person, Chris Manus, [email protected] group or ethnic or indigenous people include the overt denial of their God-given freedom, accountability, good governance and social justice that make up the hallmarks of a democracy, Dates: then there is enslavement. Received: 31 Mar. 2020 Accepted: 02 Oct. 2020 Contribution: This study contributes to authentic Christian existence and enhancement of Published: 27 July 2021 principles such of love, justice and solidarity in the Nigerian public domain, as that would How to cite this article: render enslavement agenda existing in Nigeria a contradiction. It endorses the values of peace, Manus, C.U. & Nwanguma, justice and maintenance of strong institutions. C.I., 2021, ‘Onesimus, Philemon’s runaway slave Keywords: enslavement; hidden agenda; intervention; manumission; agape; harmonious boy: A brief liberation- living; national cohesion. theological exegesis of Philemon vv. 8-18 in the Nigerian context’, HTS Teologiese Studies/ Introduction Theological Studies Until very recently, slavery was a common practice in human history. In the ancient world, its 77(1), a6016. https://doi. org/10.4102/hts.v77i1.6016 acceptability was endemic, especially in the Roman Empire in which Christianity was born and developed (Boer 1976:2). In this Empire, slaves constitute about 50% of the population at that time (Ogbonna 2012). This culture, as it were, endured till the 18th and the 19th centuries. By that time, slavery was a way of showcasing one’s wealth and status in that old society, as was known amongst African and Nigerian ancient kingdoms in particular. As noted by Hildebrandt (1981:75), to understand the problem of slavery faced by Africa, Europe, North and South America in the 18th and 19th centuries, it is essential to realise that there were two concepts of slavery, in practice, Read online: Scan this QR at that time: ‘limited’ and ‘total’ slavery. The ‘limited slavery’ practised amongst Africans included code with your victims who were essentially war captives and convicted criminals. This group could buy their smart phone or mobile device to read online. Copyright: © 2021. The Authors. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License. Note: Special Collection: Africa Platform for NT Scholars, sub-edited by Ernest van Eck (University of Pretoria). http://www.hts.org.za Open Access Page 2 of 12 Original Research freedom with time. There was another category, the ‘total Nigeria. We wish to join the Christian Association of Nigeria slavery’, which was practised amongst the Arabs and the (CAN) to examine and outline the undisputed and sensitive Europeans. Such slavers had always bought slaves who were levels of religious intolerance, which makes ‘Nigerian domiciled at their residences and served the household for Christians be endangered species in their Fatherland’ lifetime. Whilst limited slavery practised amongst Africans (Internet Post to Luke Ijezie, 28 December, 2019). The could be identical to what was obtainable amongst the Jews Nigerian Government has failed to implement effective of the Old Testament (OT) times (cf. Ex 21:1–21), the latter strategies to prevent or stop the reckless and senseless practised amongst the Arabs and the Europeans could violence that is prevailing in Nigeria or to hold the somewhat be similar to the culture that prevailed in the New perpetrators accountable (Message to Nigerians from Amb Testament (NT) era where the feudal emperors and their Prophet Isa El-Buba, March 2020). counterpart merchants lorded it over the masses (Mk 10:44; Jn 8:34–35; Ac 16:16, 19). Paul, in Philemon, initiated its The leadership of the CAN has constantly reported such abolition by appealing to common societal values system dastardly happenings to President Muhammadu Buhari in a universally recognised and imbedded in the Golden Rule number of meetings with him to prefer to see the whole and Christian ethics (Jeal, Harry & Maier 2015:14), even country as his constituency and to avoid nepotism; however, though in other passages (cf. Eph 6:5–9; 1 Tim 6:1–2; Tit on the contrary, one of his aides derives joy in abusing and 2:9–10), he wrote as if he endorsed slavery where he proffered insulting the umbrella ‘Association using every unprintable solutions as to how slaves could live happily ‘within their words’ (Olu 2020). tragic situation’ (cf. Col 3:22–24; Nwanguma 2018:51). Besides, it is noted that the Arabian Muslims and their If Nigeria does indeed have an excellent justice system, as the European counterparts brought slavery to Africa in the 18th Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo claims, then how can the Chief and 19th centuries through the Trans-Atlantic trade routes Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed, and colonialism (Falk 2011:96), and from thence they took on 18 December 2019 throw caution by advising that Muslims slavery to a monstrous level in the African continent should use their numerical superiority in the National (Hildebrandt 1981:76). This slave culture and enslavement of Assembly to amend the Constitution of Nigeria, with a view Arabian Muslims have not really been obliterated from to adding more Sharia contents to it get away un-rebuked? heartless Muslim rulers (ElombahNews 2020) in Nigeria. In (Forwarded Text 2019). After this blatant utterance, the Chief similarity, they share their religion and culture, and as they Justice has not denied or retracted the statement, and the still hold themselves as ‘born to rule’, a notion derived from government has NOT called him to order, it means that he a religious ideology that is traceable to Arab traditions and was speaking ex abundantia cordis of the government and the mindset. Muslim Ummah. The present trend of oppression and violation of the freedom Despite the yearnings, pleas and aspirations of the CAN, of indigenous peoples in Nigeria is quite more identical to there are no Christians heading any of the three arms of the idea of Arab enslavement where, although in a democratic government in the administration of Nigeria. This is unheard dispensation, all actions point to gross favouritism to a of in the political history of Nigeria since independence. Is it particular tribe, the Fulanis (Danjuma 2020). The phenomena that there are no Christians worthy or qualified to occupy of slavery and slavedom are glaringly noticeable across all any of these sensitive positions? tiers of government, as well as in other sectors, including homes. Appointments are, for example, lopsided as they are At the present time, 98% of the members of the National made in favour of the Muslims and the Fulanis, in particular Security Council of Nigeria ‘come from one part of the (ElombahNews 2020). The obvious
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