Africa Study Bible

Frequently Asked Questions about the Africa Study Bible

• Is this a new Bible translation? Did the contributors rewrite the Bible text?

  Like other study Bibles, the Africa Study Bible uses a widely respected translation that already exists. For our English edition, that is the New Living Translation. Our contributors did not change the Bible text at all. They wrote the notes surrounding the Bible text and at the bottom of each page, as well as the book introductions and articles.

• What language is the Africa Study Bible in?

  The first edition of the Africa Study Bible is in English, the most widely spoken language in Africa. We translated note submissions into English from French, Portuguese, Arabic, and Swahili. The second edition is in French (see labepa.com for more information), and more languages to follow!

• How is this different from the Africa Bible Commentary?

  Both resources look at the Bible from African perspectives, and some of the same people contributed to both projects. However, they each address a different need and so they complement each other well. The Africa Bible Commentary is more academic, and the Africa Study Bible is focused on application. The Africa Bible Commentary is a one-volume scholarly resource written by 70 African scholars. The Africa Study Bible includes the Bible text itself, and was written by 350 pastors, teachers, and scholars. The Africa Study Bible notes focus on how to apply the Bible to our lives. It also addresses important theological topics and church issues from a layman’s perspective. The Africa Study Bible is designed to be very readable.

• What is a study Bible?

  The Africa Study Bible is a Bible with devotional notes at the bottom of the page and many other helpful features. It is not a workbook or curriculum for small groups, but it can be used in small groups. The Africa Study Bible can also be used for individual quiet time or as a resource for preaching and teaching.

• Who wrote the Africa Study Bible?

  Our over 350 contributors were recommended by denominations, Christian ministries, or theological institutions. These were pastors, scholars, and leaders of Christian ministries. They represented 50 countries. Over a quarter of contributors were francophone, and nearly 20% were women. The vast majority of contributors were African by nationality and living on the continent. The committee also accepted submissions from a few people with “African hearts” – people living in the diaspora or people who had ministered in Africa for a significant portion of their lives.

  See a full list of ASB Contributors.

• Is this connected to a specific denomination or mission?

  The Africa Study Bible is a collaboration across many different Christian denominations, organisations, and ministries. Oasis International is an independent Christian publisher for Africa. We want this resource to help as many people as possible, so our notes affirm the common ground that the vast majority of Christians agree on and acknowledge different opinions when there are debates within the church.

• Where can I get a copy?

  The Africa Study Bible is available both physically and digitally throughout Africa and the USA. We have bookstores in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Uganda, and it is available on Amazon. It is available digitally on your mobile device via Google Play store and Apple Store. Find it by searching "Africa Study Bible."

• Why do Africans need their own study Bible?

  Many of the analogies and stories in western study Bibles have little to no relevance to cultures in Africa. Our Supervising Editor Dr. John Jusu shares its importance through the following story:

  “Prayer is not a vending machine,” proclaimed a village preacher. Dr. John Jusu, a young man at the time, was listening to him with curiosity. John had no idea what a vending machine was, and he was certain that neither did any of the gathered people.

  “And God’s will is not like a stoplight,” the preacher continued. John looked around again. This was a village that could only be reached only by footpaths. John began to wonder if this preacher even knew the meaning of the comparisons that he was making.

  “You see,” John explains, “This village preacher had read a book that told him prayer was not a vending machine. This village preacher was preaching God’s Word, but he was preaching out of texts that were written in the West. That is why the Africa Study Bible is so necessary. This Bible will be the first study Bible that features African pastors and scholars writing for the African experience. The Africa Study Bible will allow people like this village preacher to teach the Bible more easily because they will have access to illustrations that resonate with daily life.”

• Why are some of the Proverbs in the Africa Study Bible negative?

  We made a deliberate effort to use both positive and negative proverbs so people could learn to evaluate perspectives from a Christian worldview. This is not meant to put down any culture, tribe or nation. See the explanation on page A26. “These sayings are the work of the original author and no attempt has been made to check for accuracy."

• Did all the reviewers/editors read every note?

  Dr. John Jusu, Supervising Editor, read every note. However, all other proofreaders and editors only worked on particular parts of the project by book and section not by nationality or area. It would not have been possible to divide editors by region as they needed to work on full sections and subjects. See further explanation on page A26 of the Africa Study Bible.