PAULINE APPLICATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF GOD IN ATHENS: A VIABLE STRATEGY FOR DISCIPLESHIP IN AFRICAN CONTEXT

Abstract

African societies are known to have a strong worldview that embraces the belief in gods, ancestors’
worship, and mystical powers which may bless or curse. The worldview affects Christians and
non-Christians since both consult mystical powers in times of need and crisis. This paper aims to
establish a method that may help Africans rely on God of the Bible. The trajectory of this paper
follows Pauline mission’s entrance in Athens. It discusses the influence of biblical view of God
on discipleship, how Athenian’s view of God affected their discipleship, how African’s view of
God affects their dependence on God of the Bible, how Paul introduced God to the Athenians, and
how Pauline’s application of the doctrine of God in Athens can help in developing a strategy for
discipleship in the African context. The paper reveals that the view of God has impact on
discipleship. While biblical view of God leads to the worship of God of the Bible, African and
Athenian views of God lead to pantheistic and polytheistic view of God which accommodates the
worship of gods. It concludes that the strategy that Paul used to introduce God in Athens may be
applicable for discipleship in African context.