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210 pages

English

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In this comprehensive exploration of Ephesians, Daniel K. Darko establishes the context of early Christians in Asia Minor, specifically in relation to their belief in spiritual beings and the role these beings play in human affairs. Drawing parallels with contemporary contexts across the globe, especially in Africa, Professor Darko critiques the limited lens of Western interpretation, encouraging the church to embrace a broader array of worldviews in its pursuit of deep biblical understanding and sound application. Ultimately, Darko demonstrates that salvation in Ephesians is about deliverance from sin and the end of control by evil powers so we can flourish under the reign of God.

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Publié par	Langham Creative Projects
Date de parution	31 mars 2020
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781783688357
Langue	English
Poids de l'ouvrage	1 Mo

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0042€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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In clearly academic yet jargon-free writing, Darko draws the reader into the background world of early Jewish and Gentile converts to Christianity offering fresh insights into the spirit cosmology that informs their hearing and living the Scriptures. Under his analysis the parallels between the wisdom sayings of their sages and philosophers, and the injunctions in the Epistles, with Ephesians being the prime example, situates the often misunderstood and contested injunctions in household living within their context in a way that invites attention to re-read these texts with generosity, regardless of one’s theological inclinations.
The over-spiritualization of all problems, demonization, and divination which pervades post-missionary African Christianity in its ecclesiology are juxtaposed with first-century Christianity with a much-needed corrective that encourages these Christians to understand and hold human responsibility and divine action in tandem.
A must read for academic and lay alike who care for the future of biblical interpretation in context and communion.
Rev Esther E. Acolatse, PhD
Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and Intercultural Studies,
Knox College, University of Toronto, Canada
There is perhaps no topic where the gulf separating the West from the non-Western world is as deep and broad as the issue of the demonic. The question of whether evil spirits exist and are involved in our daily lives has been firmly decided in the Western educational tradition. The answer is unequivocally “no”! Such a belief system is relegated to an outmoded and primitive worldview that has no place in the modern world. But in this important and well-researched volume, Daniel Darko has effectively challenged this assumption by demonstrating the convergence of the African worldview with the biblical worldview, especially as reflected in the New Testament letter to the Ephesians. Evil spirits do exist and pose an ongoing threat. Ephesians, however, gives us a theological framework for understanding this realm and how we should live in light of this reality. Every Christian should read this book and allow it to shatter their deeply embedded assumptions. The present role of the resurrected and exalted Christ will take on far greater significance in your life.
Clinton E. Arnold, PhD
Dean and Professor of New Testament,
Talbot School of Theology, Pasadena, California, USA
Dan Darko’s Against Principalities and Powers offers an insightful and careful study that reflects on the intersection between the worlds of spirits in Ephesians and African cosmology. It is impossible to encounter African expressions of Christianity in any shape or form without finding in it an engagement with the Holy Spirit, spirits, and principalities and powers. This is an important study that will serve as a major resource in the field of biblical and African Christian spirituality for years to come.
J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu, PhD
Baeta-Grau Professor of Contemporary African Christianity
and Pentecostal Theology,
Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana
In this very important study, Daniel Darko fills a gaping hole in the investigation of the role of spiritual beings in Ephesians, a topic that has suffered an abysmal neglect. Professor Darko clearly establishes that rather than being tangential, spiritual beings play a significant role in the identity formation and moral discourse of the letter. He demonstrates his clear grasp of the subject from his engagement with primary and secondary literature that deal with the issue both in Greco-Roman antiquity and Jewish literature. Drawing parallels without equating the practices and norms of the Jewish, Greco-Roman and New Testament worlds, he shows the benefits of a new way of looking at Scripture from one’s social location, and with non-Western eyes in particular. With this study and his well-reasoned, compelling arguments, Darko has provided an alternative and complementary reading of Ephesians that merits the engagement of students and scholars going forward.
J. Ayodeji Adewuya, PhD
Professor of New Testament,
Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee, USA
This careful interdisciplinary work provides insights on Ephesians, its message of unity, Greco-Roman and ancient Jewish cosmology and demonology, and traditional African cosmology, theology and spirits. As such, it also models a self-aware, respectful intercultural reading too often lacking among Western interpreters.
Craig S. Keener, PhD
F. M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies,
Asbury Theological Seminary, Wilmore, Kentucky, USA
Against Principalities and Powers is a fascinating and engaging work on communal identity and moral discourse in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. This text creates a dialogical forum between theologians and scholars of African religions. Darko’s focus on Africa provides an in-depth understanding of African people’s spiritual cosmology, worldview, culture and society as it relates to the broad themes in the book. Using a comparative lens, Darko exegetically explores and articulates a deep knowledge of Pauline writings, making this a significant text for African theology, African religions and World Christianity scholars.
Jacob K. Olupona, PhD
Professor, African Religious Traditions,
and African and African American Studies,
Harvard Divinity School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Against Principalities and Powers

Spiritual Beings in Relation to Communal Identity and the Moral Discourse of Ephesians
Daniel K. Darko

© 2020 Daniel K. Darko
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.langhampublishing.org
ISBNs:
978-1-78368-767-1 Print
978-1-78368-835-7 ePub
978-1-78368-836-4 Mobi
978-1-78368-837-1 PDF
Daniel K. Darko has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher or the Copyright Licensing Agency.
Requests to reuse content from Langham Publishing are processed through PLSclear. Please visit www.plsclear.com to complete your request.
All Scripture translations in this work are the author’s own, unless otherwise stated.
Scripture quotations marked ESV 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.
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-78368-767-1
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
The publishers of this book actively support theological dialogue and an author’s right to publish but do not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth here or in works referenced within this publication, nor guarantee technical and grammatical correctness. The publishers do not accept any responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation of its published content.

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I dedicate this book to my daughters
– Esther and Deborah Darko –
that they may be ever mindful of the fullness and power of God’s salvation,
and endeavor to live fearlessly to the glory of God.
Contents

Cover

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

1 Introduction

1.1 Recalling Changing Trends in Philosophical Thought on Spirit Cosmology

1.2 Review of Scholarship on Principalities and Powers

1.3 Central Issues of Inquiry

1.4 Spiritual Beings in the Literary Structure and Rhetorical Framework

1.5 The Structure of the Book

2 Towards Greco-Roman Spirit Cosmology

2.1 Spiritual Beings in Greco-Roman Thought

2.2 Religious Practices in the Wider Society

2.3 Magic and Astrology

3 Spiritual Beings in Judaism and Early Christianity

3.1 Towards Spirit Cosmology in Judaism – A Survey

3.2 Spiritual Beings in Early Christianity

Conclusion

4 Spirit Cosmology of Ephesians 1–3

4.1 Invocation for Divine Initiatives and God’s Cosmic Plan 1:3–14

4.2 A Plea for Divine Aid for Wisdom and Revelation 1:15–23

4.3 Spiritual Death and God’s Initiatives for Salvation 2:1–10

4.4 Fellow Members in the Household of God 2:11–22

4.5 Unfolding Mystery of God, a Witness to Principalities and Powers 3:1–12

4.6 Petition for Divine Strength and Insight 3:14–21

Conclusion

5 Spiritual Beings in the Moral Discourse of Ephesians 4–6

5.1 The Nexus of Theological and Paranetic Discourse 4:1–3

5.2 The Gifts of Christ in the Body of Christ 4:7–16