Jesus said that his good news should spread to all parts of the world. This definitely includes Africa. However, it must not be mistaken that Africa is just a recipient of the news. There is a dominant and pivotal African presence in the bible, both the new and old testament. Here are some of the incidences worth noting.
God is said to have created man and put him in the Garden of Eden. This makes it the genesis of human kind. According to the book of Genesis, this land was at a meeting point of four rivers including Cush, Havilah and Asshur. History has it that Cush is in Ethiopia. Coincidentally, the earliest remains of mankind were found in Ethiopia in 1974. It almost makes it impossible to deny that Ethiopia hosted the Garden of Eden.
The Old Testament features persons who married women of African descent. Other had children with women who came from Africa. An example is Abraham who had children with both Hagar and Keturah. Both of them were Hermitic. Considering the stature of these men in the Christian faith and biblical stories, there is no denying that Africans hold a special place in biblical mythology.
Chapter 68 of the book of Psalms says that a prophet shall rise from Egypt. It continues to say in clear words that Ethiopia shall call unto the lord. These words were spoken thousands of years before Jesus was born. At nativity, Jesus runs away with his parents to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill him. This is the rise that is referred in Psalms. It is also the coming of wise men that is insinuated by Ethiopia stretching out to the Lord.
Egypt is mentioned extensively in both the old and new testaments, albeit as an oppressor. This is where Joseph ended up after being sold by his brothers. His brothers find him there while searching for food during a major drought. It took Moses and the 7 calamities to rescue Israelis. In fact, an oppressive state is still referred to as being in Egyptian bondage.
The introduction of African in the New Testament is when Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to avoid death of Jesus through Herod. They do this at the direction of an angel from God. If Jesus had died, salvation would have been impossible to achieve. This is significant because Africa comes to the rescue of Israelis.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
The disciples of Jesus were ordered to preach throughout the world. There is evidence in Acts 13, 1-2 that they went all the way to Africa. In fact, Simon in the chapter is referred to as the Black One. This makes it impossible to separate Africans from the biblical story of salvation. Their presence is very secure.
God is said to have created man and put him in the Garden of Eden. This makes it the genesis of human kind. According to the book of Genesis, this land was at a meeting point of four rivers including Cush, Havilah and Asshur. History has it that Cush is in Ethiopia. Coincidentally, the earliest remains of mankind were found in Ethiopia in 1974. It almost makes it impossible to deny that Ethiopia hosted the Garden of Eden.
The Old Testament features persons who married women of African descent. Other had children with women who came from Africa. An example is Abraham who had children with both Hagar and Keturah. Both of them were Hermitic. Considering the stature of these men in the Christian faith and biblical stories, there is no denying that Africans hold a special place in biblical mythology.
Chapter 68 of the book of Psalms says that a prophet shall rise from Egypt. It continues to say in clear words that Ethiopia shall call unto the lord. These words were spoken thousands of years before Jesus was born. At nativity, Jesus runs away with his parents to Egypt because Herod wanted to kill him. This is the rise that is referred in Psalms. It is also the coming of wise men that is insinuated by Ethiopia stretching out to the Lord.
Egypt is mentioned extensively in both the old and new testaments, albeit as an oppressor. This is where Joseph ended up after being sold by his brothers. His brothers find him there while searching for food during a major drought. It took Moses and the 7 calamities to rescue Israelis. In fact, an oppressive state is still referred to as being in Egyptian bondage.
The introduction of African in the New Testament is when Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt to avoid death of Jesus through Herod. They do this at the direction of an angel from God. If Jesus had died, salvation would have been impossible to achieve. This is significant because Africa comes to the rescue of Israelis.
Simon of Cyrene is the stranger forced to assist Jesus with the cross on the way to Calvary. Interestingly, Cyrene was a Roman colony in Africa. It was an important source of corn, oil and wool. Further, her people were marathoners or long distant traders. This means that Simon was most likely an African on his errands when he was forced to act merciful, another insurmountable contribution of Africans to the story of salvation.
The disciples of Jesus were ordered to preach throughout the world. There is evidence in Acts 13, 1-2 that they went all the way to Africa. In fact, Simon in the chapter is referred to as the Black One. This makes it impossible to separate Africans from the biblical story of salvation. Their presence is very secure.
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