The Mystery of the Church , livre ebook

Fabrice Katembo is determined to follow the biblical truth wherever it will lead him. In this study of the New Testament church and its relation to the church in Africa, he labors well to write in a biblically clear way. Fabrice has a refreshing burden for biblically healthy African churches, and in his analysis he accurately surveys not only the Scriptures but relevant African theologians. Here is an author worthy of your time. Tolle Lege! (Take up and read!)
Daniel Huffstutler, ThM
Pastor,
Redeemer Bible Church, Nairobi, Kenya
Fabrice Katembo has explained the mystery of the church of Christ in very captivating, simple, and clear terms, unlike many other scholars who complicate the truth of God’s word in the name of prowess in higher theological scholarship. In the final two chapters, although he differs markedly with other renowned African theologians such as John S. Mbiti and Kwame Bediako (such as on whether the true God of Israel is the Supreme Being in African traditional religions and other aspects), Katembo has endeavoured as best as he can to present the implications of the revealed mystery of the church on the African context. Readers may not agree with all that he has written, but it is an outstanding book worth reading and interacting with from beginning to end.
Nathan Nzyoka Joshua, PhD
Lecturer in Biblical Studies,
Africa International University (NEGST), Nairobi, Kenya
This book helpfully provides readers an overview of Paul and his theology before examining the concept of the church as a “mystery.” As Katembo notes, churches in Africa often struggle with divisions. Thus, this work provides a way for Christians to think about what it means to be the church. The book is accessible while providing both scholarly support for the author’s claims and taking the church’s context into account.
Stephanie M. Lowery, PhD
Lecturer in Theological Studies,
Africa International University (NEGST), Nairobi, Kenya
I offer high praise for Fabrice S. Katembo’s latest work, The Mystery of the Church. With a spirit that is reminiscent of the late Byang Kato, Katembo takes an unashamed biblical perspective on ecclesiology and applies it to modern Africa. In this work, Katembo brings to light the theological weaknesses of a few of the earliest and most respected African theologians like Mbiti, Bediako, and Idowu. While applauding their attempts to find connections between Christianity and African Traditional Religion, he demonstrates that some of their conclusions do not stand up to the witness of Scripture. Katembo is one of the new generation of African theologians who are academically gifted and respectful of the past, but thoroughly committed to the truth of Scripture above culture or tradition. His work is a breath of fresh air and an exciting application of ancient truth to modern life.

Kevin W. Rodgers, PhD
Africa Baptist Theological Education Network
This book provides an apt, accessible, and clear exposition of Paul’s understanding of the mystery of the church with particular application to contemporary African Christianity. Avoiding technical language, the book covers Paul’s life and theology, metaphors of the church, African traditional religions, the Christologies of three prominent African theologians, and the church as the body of Christ. What I find most helpful about this book is its simplicity and bravery. It is written with pastoral concern for a wide readership. Thus, lay Christians, preachers, and students will find it valuable.
David Kirwa Tarus, PhD
Executive Director,
Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA)
Fabrice Katembo has provided us with a good overview of Paul’s theology of the church, with a unique focus on its implications for the church in Africa. Taking up the mantle of Byang Kato, he rightly subjects African traditional religions to the authority of the Word of God, rejecting syncretism. He appropriately upholds the gospel as the solution to ethnic division. Katembo’s work is saturated throughout with Scripture; it is gospel-centred, and Christ-exalting.
Jamie Viands, PhD
Lecturer in Biblical Studies,
Africa International University (NEGST), Nairobi, Kenya

The Mystery of the Church
Applying Paul’s Ecclesiology in Africa
Fabrice S. Katembo

© 2020 Fabrice S. Katembo
Published 2020 by HippoBooks, an imprint of ACTS and Langham Publishing.
Africa Christian Textbooks (ACTS), TCNN, PMB 2020, Bukuru 930008, Plateau State, Nigeria.
www.actsnigeria.org
Langham Publishing, PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria CA3 9WZ, UK
www.langham.org
ISBNs:
978-1-83973-056-6 Print
978-1-83973-086-3 ePub
978-1-83973-087-0 Mobi
978-1-83973-088-7 PDF
Fabrice S. Katembo has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
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Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible , New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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ISBN: 978-1-83973-056-6
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Contents

Cover


Introduction


What Is the Mystery of the Church?


The Shape of This Book


Part 1 Paul and the Theology of the Church


1 The Life and Theology of Paul


Who Is Paul?


Paul’s Apostleship


An Overview of Pauline Theology


2 Metaphoric Figures of the Church


Definition of the Church


The Visible Church and the Invisible Church


The Church as God’s Building


The Church as God’s Temple


The Church as the Bride of Christ


The Church as the Body of Christ


The Church as a Flock


3 The Mystery of the Church


Introduction to the Book of Ephesians


A Special Problem


The Mystery of the Church


Old Testament Accounts about the Gentiles


The Mystery Hidden for Ages


The Relationship of Israel and the Church


Made Minister of the Mystery


Why Does the Church Exist?


Conclusion


Part 2 The Church in Africa


4 The Concepts of Christ in African Christianity


Engaging the African Culture


The Jesus of John Mbiti


The Africanization of Jesus by Kwame Bediako


The Continuity of the Understanding of God in Africa


A Pauline Approach to Christ


Is Christ Really a Redeemer of African Heritage?


Conclusion


5 Corporate Unity in Christ and Its Consequences in Africa


Defining Ethnicity


Cause of Ethnic Hostility


Unity and Peace in Christ


Uncircumcised


Strangers to the Covenants


Christ Our Peace


Conclusion


Conclusion


Bibliography

Endnotes
Introduction
When I talk of applying Paul’s ecclesiology, I do not intend to do an assessment or a careful evaluation of literary works on the church. This study is an attempt to understand the mystery of the church as explained by Paul in his epistles. It is not my intent to critically review and debate all scholarly works on the subject matter, but the purpose of this study is to lead the reader “from a position outside the Bible to one inside it,” [1] for a better understanding of Paul’s concept of the mystery of the church. Thus, this study is limited to a framework of Pauline epistles.
There are excellent books on understanding the mystery of the church, for example G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, Hidden but Now Revealed: A Biblical Theology of Mystery ; John S. Feinberb, Continuity and Discontinuity: Perspectives on the Relationship between the Old and New Testaments ; Oswald T. Allis, Prophecy and the Church , etc. While these books entail a broad study and a more technical approach to the mystery, this book is intended to help the reader understand the mystery of the church based on the writings of the apostle Paul. My purpose is to introduce the reader into the discussion rather than doing a critical analysis of different scholastic views.
Lots of scholarship on the mystery of the church pursue both a theological and exegetical approach but without bridging the application to our world today. Thus in my approach, I seek to understand the mystery of the church considering African Christianity. For instance, it could be argued there is continuity on the understanding of God between African traditional religions and Christianity. But it is my opinion that we cannot defend the validity of African traditional religions considering only the Old Testament. We must look at it through the lenses of New Testament truth as well. A clear Pauline description of the gentiles will reveal that in trying to trace this continuity is a terrible temptation to sideline th