111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 060041664R North-West University Mafil<eng Campus Library A dialogue between Africa philosophy and • • mlSSlO ei.· koinonia and ubuntu P. 0. Marumo BTh, Hons BA (Theology) Dissertation submitted as partial fulfilment of the requirements for Master ofArts in Theology (Missiology) at the North-West University (Mafikeng Campus) br Supervisor: Dr. Hannes JJ Knoetze . Date: October 2013 DECLARATION I declare that this mini-dissertation is my own unaided work. All citations, references and bolTowed ideas have been appropriately acknowledged. The mini-dissertation is being submitted for the Masters of Arts Degree in Theology (Missiology) in the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, in the Department of Theology of the North West University: Mafikeng Campus, South Africa. None of the present work has been submitted previously for any degree or examination in any other University. ~ P.O.Mar \o Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. Dedicated to my late father and mother (Rev Samuel J Marumo and Mrs Nomaliso Euphemia Marumo): I hope I made you proud. 2. My brothers, Kealeboga and Kago Marumo, for your unwavering support: Thank you guys, stay blessed, God loves you. 3. Prof Sarel Vander Merwe, my spiritual and social father, mentor and inspiration throughout all my academic years: May God bless and keep you and your family for the wonderful work you have done in shaping my life, making me what I am today through God's grace and guidance. Thanks, Prof, you have made it, even if we are not there yet. 4. Dr Johannes Knoetze, my supervisor, for the insight, guidance, understanding and knowledge that were shared throughout this research, which was not an easy ride: You were excellent, extraordinary and supportive. Keep it up! Thanks and may the good God bless you and your family. 5. Dr Johannes Wessels, for the words of encouragement every time that we meet: May the good God biess you and your family. 6. Prof Alfred Brunsdon, for your supportive complements which always made my day when I met you, calling me "Prof': One day, I will be one! Thank you and stay blessed with your family. 7. Kgaitsedi, Tlotlo, for your support and encouragement when the going was tough and I was not seeing eye to eye with Prof: You were there to listen to my frustrations. 8. To crown it all, praise and adoration go to the Almighty God who had always made it possible in trying times: Almighty God, you were good in all respects; I trusted, and you enhanced my faith. THANK YOU. 9. Lastly, to the National Research Fund for their financial assistance: This research could not have been possible without your help. Thank you for your financial support and academic input. PREFACE This study culminated from a concept that is prevalent among blacks, namely that Westerners brought the Bible with them, gloved in Christianity, and took the land. This is misconstrued as a fallacy, because what they mean is that if the African culture was well understood and the Westerners saw God's glorification embedded in it, the situation could have been the other way round. This study tries to showcase that the misconception of"saving souls" of the Africans was not achieved, because their cultural ethos was ignored and marginalised. The church also failed in its endeavours to attain that, due to its non-missional attitude. What is needed, is a missional church with missional ministries that are spearheaded by missionalleadership that can bring forth an establishment of reconciled communities. ii ABSTRACT Missionaries came along with colonial powers with the sincere, but culturally misguided, attempt to save primitives, ignorant ofthe true religion ofAfi'icans. An African was regarded as a child who needed to be nurtured and guided (Ukpong 2001). However, the dissertation will show that there is reciprocal enhancement between koinonia and AJNcan philosophy which can establish missional communities. Therefore, the main question that this dissertation raises, is the following: Can koinonia, as part of the missio Dei, inculturate African philosophy to build reconciled societies? iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 1 1. Fonnulating the problem ................................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Background and problem statement ............................................................................................ 1 1.2.1 Background .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.2.1.1 African philosophy ................................................................................................................ 3 1.2.1.2 Tribalistn ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.2.1. 3 Xenophobia ........................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 Problem statetnent. ................................· ............................................................................................. 8 1.4 Central research question ............................................................................................................. 8 1. 5 Aitns and objectives ..................................................................................................................... 9 1.5.1 Aitn .......................................................................................................................................... 9 1.5.2 Objectives ................................................................................................................................. 9 1 .6 Central theoretical argument .......................................................................... , ............................. 9 1.7 Method of research .................................................................................................................... 10 1.7.1 Study limitations ..................................................................................................................... 10 1.8 Tentative chapters ...................................................................................................................... 11 CHAPTER 2: MISSIO DEI AND CHRISTIAN KOINONIA ........................................................... 12 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Background ............................................................................................................................... 12 2.3 Missio Dei ................................................................................................................................. 16 2.3.1 Definition of ntissio Dei........................................................................................ ........................ 16 2.4 Missio Dei in action ................................................................................................................... 18 2.5 Missio Dei in culture .................................................................................................................. 20 2.6 The Biblical historical developments of koinonia in missio Dei .................................................. 22 2.6.1 Background ............................................................................................................................ 22 2.6.2 K.oinonia and creation ............................................................................................................. 24 2.6.3 Koinonia and the Old Testament ............................................................................................. 25 2.6.3.1 Koinonia and covenants ....................................................................................................... 27 2.6.4 K.oinonia and the New Testament. ........................................................................................... 28 2.6.5 I<.oinonia and atonement ......................................................................................................... 28 iv 2.6.6 Koinonia and the Holy Spirit ................................................................................................... 29 2.6.7 Koinonia and the Trinity ......................................................................................................... 31 2.6.8 Koinonia and the new creation ................................................................................................ 33 2.6.9 Koinonia as the washing of feet (humility and service) (John 13: 1-20) .................................... 34 2.6.10 Koinonia and Holy Communion/Eucharist/Sacrament (John 13:21-30) .................................. 36 2.6.11 Koinonia, loving each other and being in God (John 13:34-35 and John 15: 1-17) .................. 36 2.6.12 Koinonia as knowing and be known by God (John 14: 1-12) .................................................. 38 2.6.13 Koinonia and prayer (John 17) .............................................................................................. 39 2.6.14 Koinonia and baptism ........................................................................................................... 40 2.6.15 Koinonia and worship ..........................................................................................................