Towards a new reading of the Bible in Africa - spy exegesis

Abstract

Though some modern critical methods have almost managed to reduce the Bible to mere rabble, it is indubitably true that the Bible remains influential and it continues to impact the lives of millions in Africa, in particular. As observed by R. M. Gunda, its circulation in Africa has been on the rise and it remains a central and critical manual for daily living to multitudes of people.1 The daily contact of Africans with the Bible is not just limited to church services but there is a daily interaction with it also in academic, social, economic and political circles, and at limes for ends better known to the ones using it. It is its use in the political sphere that this paper is interested in as it seeks to expose how the Bible has been used as one of the sources of intelligence by intelligence organisations to outwit enemies. An interesting scenario is that the Bible itself is full of exemplary incidences which show the use of espionage tactics to outclass enemies. Both the Old and New Testaments abound with such examples. What is of particular interest, however, to this study is the use of Scriptures and other espionage tactics also by the Jesus movement to defeat the plans of the enemy. Faced with the countless challenges that Africa is experiencing especially as a result of its enemies I feel there is need for Africans to shop the manner in which intelligence organisations and the Jesus movement have appropriated the Bible to successfully outwit their enemies. It is my belief and hope that through the use of the Bible as a source of intelligence and the identification of some espionage tactics in it, which 1 would like to term here ‘spy exegesis’, Africans can liberate themselves from foes who are after their downfall. The use of the Bible as a source of intelligence will not be looked at in isolation but shall rather be discussed within the broad context of other methods used in the world of espionage to gather information.