Prophetism in African Christianity and Biblical Traditions

Abstract This article examines the portrayal of prophetism in the works of J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu and compares it with the depiction of prophetism by the author of the gospel of Luke. Prophetism is a recurrent religious phenomenon in the Christian faith, particularly in Africa. Many scholars have undertaken seminal works on the subject, depending on the popularity and effect of the experience on contemporary Christianity. Many Christian denominations have suffered schism due to the erupting of prophetic ministry and have also benefitted from the phenomenon by negotiating for religious innovations that resonate with the worldview of members of the congregation. Often, the questions asked are whether these strands of prophetism are aligned with the biblical philosophy of prophetism and which genre of the Bible contemporary prophetism reflects. This study engages the narrative research method to discuss critically how Asamoah-Gyadu writes about prophetism in contemporary African Christianity and how the author of Luke portrays it and draws lessons for scholars, contemporary prophets, and Christian denominations in which the experience is not common.