I will pass over you: The relevance of the Passover to the understanding of salvation in contemporary Ghanaian Pentecostalism – A critical reflection from an Akan perspective Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades Dr. theol. dem Fachbereich Evangelische Theologie in der Fakultät für Geisteswissenschaften der Universität Hamburg vorgelegt von Joseph Williams Acheampong aus Ghana Hamburg, den 21. Oktober 2014 Erstgutachter: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dehn Zweitgutachter: Prof. Dr. Corinna Körting Tag des Rigorosums: 29.01.15 ii Acknowledgement My deepest appreciation goes to the Lord who has brought me this far in my academic pursuit. I also remain indebted to the Missionsakademie for the offer of sponsorship I received from them in support of my stay in Germany and for working on this dissertation. I would like to express my hearty thanks to my supervisors, who supported me in various ways in bringing this work to completion. I therefore take this opportunity to mention Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dehn, Prof Dr. Corinna Körting and Prof. Dr. Werner Kahl. Your constructive criticisms and the insights you gave me at various stages of this work have contributed in no small way to make the dream of writing this dissertation a reality. I remain grateful. I am also grateful to my Church, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana for allowing me to pursue this further study. Your spiritual and non spiritual support to me and my family during the period of working on this dissertation cannot go unrecognized. I am also indebted to all my previous lecturers at the Trinity Theological Seminary and Princeton Theological Seminary whose encouragement and mentorship also contributed in shaping my dream of writing this dissertation. The encouragement and support from friends also have to be acknowledged. I am indeed grateful to you all. May the good Lord bless you all. The same can be said of my parents and my siblings whose prayer support and encouragement need to be acknowledged. The last but not the least, I would like to express my profound appreciation to my wife Golda and our children, Immanuel, Stephanie and Ephraim for their love, sacrifice, and support during the course of writing this dissertation. For the most part of the period, I was not available to play my role expected of me from you, but you cooperated and supported me with your love, prayers, and encouragement. Mede Awurade da mo ase pii. (May the Lord bless you). Table of Content Table of Content Acknowledgement ................................................................................................... iv Abstract .................................................................................................................... ix Chapter One ............................................................................................................ 11 1.1 Salvation and the Exodus (Passover) motif............................................. 19 1.2 The neglect of the Passover motif in the scholarly discourse in Ghanaian Pentecostalism ......................................................................... 31 1.3 Methodology ............................................................................................... 34 1.3.1 The comparative paradigm ....................................................................... 43 1.3.2 Information on Pentecostals and the African Traditional Religion (ATR) ..................................................................................................................... 49 Chapter Two ............................................................................................................ 51 2.1 Salvation (or nkwagyeԑ) in traditional Akan thought/context ................ 51 2.2 Meaning of life (or nkwa) ........................................................................... 51 2.3 Life and the Spirit world of the Akan ........................................................ 53 2.3.1 Nyame ......................................................................................................... 53 2.3.2 Asase Yaa ................................................................................................... 56 2.3.3 Nsuo or Spirits in water bodies ................................................................ 58 2.3.4 Nananom Nsamanfoo or the Spirit of the Ancestors .............................. 60 2.3.5 Abosom ....................................................................................................... 60 2.3.6 Asuman ....................................................................................................... 64 2.4 Determinants of “abundant life” ............................................................... 66 2.5 Life and destiny (or nkrabea/hyԑbea) ....................................................... 68 2.6 Hindrances to ‘abundant life’ .................................................................... 71 2.6.1 Taboo (or Mmusuo) .................................................................................... 70 2.6.2 Curses (or duabᴐ) ...................................................................................... 73 2.6.3 Evil Spiritual Powers and Witchcraft ........................................................ 76 Table of Content 2.6.4 The lifestyle of an individual ..................................................................... 77 2.7 Salvation (or nkwagyeԑ) and ‘abundant life’ ............................................ 78 2.7.1 Understanding of nkwagyeԑ (or salvation) .............................................. 78 2.7.2 The need for nkwagyeԑ (or salvation) ...................................................... 79 2.8 Overcoming the hindrances ...................................................................... 81 2.8.1 Preventive steps ......................................................................................... 81 2.8.1.1 Pleasing the deities .................................................................................... 81 2.8.1.2 Abisa (or Consultation/divination) ............................................................ 80 2.8.1.3 Nsaguo/apayeԑ (or libation) ...................................................................... 83 2.8.1.4.Seeking Protection From A Deity ……………………………………...84 2.8.2 Curative measures ..................................................................................... 87 2.8.2.1 Performance of Rituals (mmusuyi) ........................................................... 89 2.8.2.2 Reversing curses (or duabↄ danee) ......................................................... 93 2.8.2.3 Nsaguo (or libation) ................................................................................... 95 2.9 Salvation and life after death .................................................................... 96 2.9.1 Understanding of death ............................................................................. 96 2.9.2 Understanding of life after death .............................................................. 99 2.9.3 Salvation and life after death .................................................................. 100 Chapter Three ....................................................................................................... 105 3 Understanding of salvation among Pentecostals ................................. 105 3.1 The Meaning of salvation ........................................................................ 105 3.1.1 Salvation and the Exodus ....................................................................... 107 3.2 Salvation as a present day experience .................................................. 111 3.2.1 Spiritual Empowerment ........................................................................... 112 3.2.2 Physical/material ...................................................................................... 116 3.3 Salvation as a future experience ............................................................ 121 3.4 Hindrances/enemies of salvation ........................................................... 122 3.4.1 Spiritual obstacles ................................................................................... 123 3.4.1.1 Sin ............................................................................................................. 123 3.4.1.2 Curses ....................................................................................................... 126 3.4.1.3 Evil Spirits ................................................................................................ 128 3.4.2 Non-spiritual ............................................................................................. 130 Table of Content 3.4.2.1 Ignorance .................................................................................................. 130 3.4.2.2 Laziness .................................................................................................... 131 3.5 Overcoming the hindrances .......................................................................... 133 3.5.1 Spiritual Development ............................................................................. 133 3.5.1.1 The Word of God ...................................................................................... 133 3.5.1.2 Prayer ........................................................................................................ 135 3.5.2 Deliverance and salvation ....................................................................... 139 3.5.2.1 Meaning of deliverance ..........................................................................