sustain:if:able kiwi

God in Libya

I’m really enjoying reading Thomas C Oden’s Early Libyan Christianity: Uncovering a North African Tradition. The book began with an invitation for Oden to address the Da’wa Islamic University in 2008.

Like any decent academic, he began to do some research. And discovered that buried beneath the sand was a vital Christian presence in Libya. For example, in the 190s AD, Libyan’s were at the heart of Christianity – a pope (Victor the African), a leading theologian (Tertullian), and a key diplomat (Synesius).

Or in this summary statement (pages 84-85):

1. An African was present on the road to the crucifixion.
2. Africans were present in the Cyreniac synagogue in Jerusalem.
3. Africans were present in the first missionary journey north toward Antioch predating Paul
4. An African … was present in the first missionary journey south toward Ethiopia.
5. Africans were present in the debates leading to the major decision about circumcision for Gentile believers.
6. Africans were present in the growth of the first international church in Antioch.
7. Africans were present in the preparation and ordination of Paul to be apostle.
8. Africans were present in Rome before the arrival of either Peter or Paul.

The implications are important: that Christianity is NOT Western. A common caricature – heard in phrases like “Trinity is a Greek concept” or “Jesus was a white person.” Faith has been multi-cultural, growing in diversity in diverse cultures.

Early Libyan Christianity: Uncovering a North African Tradition is a nice partner to Philip Jenkins, The Lost History of Christianity: The Thousand-Year Golden Age of the Church in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia–and How It Died which I read back in 2008 and have summarised here and here.