The intermediatorial work of Christ through His threefold office : a theological appropriation from an African perspective

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the midst of suffering, poverty and moral crisis, many Africans have never been able torely on Christ as the only Lord and Saviour of their lives. In spite of their regular churchattendance to the Church, many of the Africans so called believers have never stoppedworshipping Ancestors, consulting Sangomas, and using witchcrafts whenever things gowrong in their lives. Thus for many Africans Christ has been perceived incapable torespond to the crises of their lives, and the Church has been regarded irrelevant to addressthe issues of Africans. For many Africans, Christianity is just a formality. As aconsequence, many of African believers are still under the bondage of sin and demons asmany churches are struggling to appropriately apply the meaning of Christ's work ofsalvation in practical ways in an African context. Therefore, in the light of the brokennessand sinfulness of humans and the existence of tragedy, on earth, especially on the Africancontinent and its syncretism, this study investigates the meaning of Jesus Christ'smediatorial work in His threefold office for the redemption and liberation of humanbeings in general, and how can the mediatorial work of Christ be effectively appropriatedin light of African contexts.Since the aim in this work is to explore the meaning of Jesus Christ's mediatorial work ofsalvation for human beings in general and the manner in which his work can beappropriated in the African context, in chapter one, we have presented the background inwhich the tragic condition of human beings in general, and of Africans in particular, isviewed in need for the redemptive mediatorial work of Christ in his threefold office.In chapter two, we discussed the background of the messianic threefold office of Christ inits biblical and historical origin and meaning, some objections to the notion of thethreefold office of Christ and, finally, some contemporary interpretations of the threefoldoffice of Christ.From chapter three to chapter five, we thus strived to explain each of the three offices ofChrist in its biblical and historical origins; and in its messianic function; in chapter four,on the messianic priestly office, we explained the theological meaning of Christ's atoning work. We also discussed the contemporary meaning for each office.Finally in chapter six, we have concluded our thesis with a proposed Christology.African theologians stress Jesus' central place within African Christianity and that thereis a critical need to articulate the reality and significance of Christ in relation to the livesof Africans. African theologians are encouraged to articulate the image of Christ who isable to inspire the Church and Christians in Africa to follow the path of reconciliation,justice, and peace. Constructing African Christologies of reconciliation, justice, andpeace poses a fruitful challenge to African theologians and Christians. This task entailsconstructing a Christology in which there is a meeting place where Christ is conversingwith the soul of Africa.The Christological approach that has often been proposed by many African theologians isa functional one, known as a Christology from below. In this Christology the mainemphasis is on what Christ has done for our salvation, rather than Christ's nature. With afunctional Christology some names have been attributed to Christ to describe hisfunction: 'Christ the Witch-Doctor, 'Christ the healer, 'Christ the Medicine man,'Christ the Nganga, 'Christ the Chief, 'Christ the ancestor, 'Christ the liberator, and'Christ the king.It has been pointed out that Christology in Africa will be meaningful and empoweringonly when we translate it to our contextual situation in daily life. When Africans areabsolutely certain that Jesus Christ is sufficiently able to address their profoundestAfrican problems, they will be compelled to yield to Him as their Lord and saviour.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University