Africa Bible Commentary
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“A PUBLISHING LANDMARK . ” —John R. Stott “A MONUMENTAL WORK . ” —Rick Warren he Africa Bible Commentary is a unique publishing event—the first one-volume Bible “This monumental work of biblical scholarship is filled commentary produced in Africa by African with helpful insights into God’s Word that every pastor, T Bible teacher, and Christian will benefit from. We’ve theologians to meet the needs of African pastors, students, and lay leaders. Interpreting and applying the needed this commentary for a long, long time!” Africa Bible in the light of African cultures and realities today, Rick Warren it furnishes powerful and relevant insights into the Pastor, Saddleback Church ® biblical texts that transcend Africa in their significance. Author, The Purpose Driven Life The Africa Bible Commentary gives a section-by- Bible section interpretation that provides a contextual, readable, “A publishing landmark … Its foundation is biblical, its affordable, and immensely useful guide to the entire perspective African, and its approach to controversial questions balanced. I intend to use it myself in order to Bible. Readers around the world will benefit from gain African insights into the Word of God. Indeed, I hope Commentary and appreciate the commentary’s fresh insights and it will have a worldwide readership.” direct style that engage both heart and mind. —John R. Stott, from the Foreword A One-Volume Commentary KEY FEATURES “A rich and valuable contribution to biblical knowledge Written by 70 African Scholars • Produced by African biblical scholars, and understanding. I commend it to Christian leaders, in Africa, for Africa—and the world not only in Africa but the world over.” • Section-by-section interpretive com- —Justice James Ogenyi Ogebe, mentary and application High Court, Nigeria sampler • More than 70 special articles deal- “A good and readable blend of excellent scholarship, Book of James ing with topics of key impor- heartwarming spirituality, and relevant application. It tance to ministry in Africa challenges African Christianity, and wider, to a neces- today, but that have global sary commitment of heart, mind, and will. Its target implications audience and the wider church will find it to be a useful • 70 African contributors from treasure.” both English- and French- —Dr. Douglas Carew, vice chancellor, Nairobi speaking countries Evangelical Graduate School of Theology • Transcends the African context “This outstanding volume is a landmark for African with insights into the biblical text Christianity. Wherever the Bible is loved and read, this and the Christian faith for readers volume will enhance people’s understanding and appli- worldwide cation of it.” —Dr. Christopher J. H. Wright, international director, GENERAL EDITOR Langham Partnership International DR. TOKUNBOH ADEYEMO is the executive director of the Centre for Biblical Transformation, having served previously as general secretary for the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. He received his ThD from Dallas Theological Seminary and his PhD from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Tokunboh Adeyemo General Editor ISBN 0-310-27407-9 FOREWORDS BY JOHN R. STOTT AND ROBERT K. ABOAGYE-MENSAH AFRICA BIBLE COMMENTARY AFRICA BIBLE COMMENTARY General Editor Tokunboh Adeyemo Theological Editors Solomon Andria, Issiaka Coulibaly, Tewoldemedhin Habtu, Samuel Ngewa Theological Advisors Kwame Bediako, Isabel Apawo Phiri, Yusufu Turaki Published for distribution in Africa by WordAlive Publishers, PO Box 4547 GPO-00100 Nairobi, Kenya www.wordalivepublishers.com Distribution in Africa also provided by Oasis International Ltd. [email protected] Published for distribution in the rest of the world by The Zondervan Corporation www.zondervan.com First published in 2006 © ABC Editorial Board, Association of Evangelicals of Africa (AEA) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means Published– electronic, for distribution mechanical, in Africaphotocopy, by WordAlive recording, Publishers, or any other PO Box – except 4547 forGPO-00100 brief quotations Nairobi, in Kenyaprinted reviews, without the prior permission www.wordalivepublishers.comof the appropriate publisher. DistributionAll Scripture inquotations, Africa also unless provided otherwise by Oasis indicated, International are taken Ltd. from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, [email protected], 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of the International Bible Society and is used by permission. PublishedRequests forfor informationdistribution onin theall otherrest of English the world editions by The should Zondervan be addressed Corporation to Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA www.zondervan.com Requests for information on translations should be addressed to the Piquant Agency, PO Box 83, Carlisle, CA3 9HZ, UK [email protected] published in 2006 www.piquant.net © ABC Editorial Board, Association of Evangelicals of Africa (AEA) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other – except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the appropriate publisher. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved. ‘NIV’ is a registered trademark of the International Bible Society and is used by permission. Requests for information on all other English editions should be addressed to Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA RequestsAfrica Edition for information ISBN-10: 9966-805-78-8 on translations should be addressed to the Piquant Agency, PO Box 83, Carlisle, CA3 9HZ, UK [email protected] Edition ISBN-13: 978-9966-805-78-2www.piquant.net Zondervan Edition ISBN-10: 0-310-26473-1 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data has been applied for. ISBNZondervan 10: 0-310-27407-9 Edition ISBN-13: 978-0-310-26473-6 Cover design: Projectluz [email protected] Editorial oversight: Isoword [email protected] Proofreading oversight: Editorial Suite www.editorialsuite.com Africa Edition ISBN-10: 9966-805-78-8 Africa Edition ISBN-13: 978-9966-805-78-2 Zondervan Edition ISBN-10: 0-310-26473-1 Zondervan Edition ISBN-13: 978-0-310-26473-6 Cover design: Projectluz [email protected] Editorial oversight: Isoword [email protected] Proofreading oversight: Editorial Suite www.editorialsuite.com FOREWORD BY DR JOHN STOTT The Bible has an indispensable part to play in the church is a publishing landmark, and I congratulate contributors member’s personal discipleship and in the pastor’s preaching and editors on their achievement. Its foundation is biblical, ministry. But this statement assumes that they can under- its perspective African, and its approach to controversial stand it. Hence the wonderful provision of the Africa Bible questions balanced. I intend to use it myself in order to Commentary. One FOREWORDof the most significant recent develop-BY DRgain African JOHN insights intoSTOTT the Word of God. Indeed, I hope ments in the churches of Africa is the rise of soundFOREWORDS biblical it will have a worldwide readership, so that we may better scholarship. The church is fortunate indeed to see this grasp ‘with all God’s people’ the full dimensions of Christ’s Theresurgence Bible has in thean indispensablecontinent that partgave to us play such in interpreters the church islove a publishing(Eph 3:18). landmark, and I congratulate contributors xmember’sas Augustine personal and Athanasius. discipleship andThe inAfrica the pastor’s Bible Commentary preaching and editors on their achievement. Its foundation isJohn biblical, Stott ministry. But this statement assumes that they can under- its perspective African, and its approach toDecember controversial 2005 Acknowledgementsstand it. Hence the wonderful provision of the Africa Bible •questions The editors balanced. for their I sound intend and to eruditeuse it myselfscholarship in order with to a WeCommentary praise God. One for ofall the he mosthas accomplished. significant recent And itdevelop- is also gaintouch African of spiritual insights anointing, into the Word as well of asGod. for Indeed, their selfless, I hope importantments in the that churches we acknowledge of Africa is the the significantrise of sound contribu- biblical it willsacrificial have a service. worldwide readership, so that we may better tionsscholarship. made by Thecertain church organizations is fortunate and individualsindeed to seewithout this •grasp All ‘withsixty-nine all God’s contributors people’ the for full making dimensions history of Christ’s in our whichresurgence the ABC in the could continent not have that been gave born. us such interpreters lovegeneration (Eph 3:18). by producing the first ever one-volume Bible •as TheAugustine AEA for and officially Athanasius. sponsoring The Africa the ABC Bible and Commentary giving the commentary for the church in Africa. John Stott editorial board the academic and management freedom • Zondervan, WordAlive and Oasis for agreeingDecember to publish, 2005 to function.FOREWORD BY DR ABOAGYE-MENSAHdistribute