'Jesus did not die to save the world' – Professor of Christian theology

Professor of Christian theology in University of Ilorin, Pius Oyeniran Abioje, has dismissed the agelong Biblical claim that Jesus Christ died to save the world. 

Speaking while delivering the 167th Inaugural Lecture of the university, entitled, ‘Christian Prophets and Other Prophets in Nigeria’, the professor said Jesus Christ was killed by haters of truth. Abioje, who noted that critical prophets should anticipate opposition and conspiracy from unexpected quarters, said: “The conspiracy that killed Jesus Christ came from the millieu of the chief priest and the political elite. 

“Regrettably,the interpretations by many Christians is that God wanted Jesus to die so as to save the world. Yet the world continues to persecute innocent critical prophets. “Why cannot Christians emphasise that Jesus was killed by haters of truth,the religio-political powers that be,particularly since the world is still seeking redemption? “Nigerians should learn to see critical prophets as friends of the society,and pardon them whenever they happen to err,since no human being is infallible.”

The professor asked the people in positions of authority to learn to see critical prophets as partners in progress towards human edification,not as adversaries. The university don also admonished: “Divinatory/esoteric prophets should avoid fraudulence.” They should see their divinatory knowledge as divine endowment to be used altruistically and not for exploitation.

“People who consult esoteric prophets should be discerning and not gullible. “ They should avoid frequent recourse to divinatory prophecy to avoid mediumistic psychosis” Abioje also urged Nigerians to strive to become critical prophets to speak against evil on behalf of God and try to live holy lives. 

He however advised: “Academic p rogrammes generally should include introduction to critical prophecy,which makes a person to be committed to advocacy in godly words and actions,even as medical doctors,engineers,architects,lawyers and so on and not only as clergy men and women, Virtues for which critical prophets strive is unarguably the key to individual and social progress,even when truth can be very bitter.”