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The Groaning of Creation (Romans 8:19-22) and the Ecological Devastation of the Niger Delta, Nigeria


Peter Chidolue Onwuka

Abstract

This work studied Romans 8:19-22 with a focus on the frustration human actions bring to the non-material creation which makes it yearn  to be liberated from them and tries to see its relationship to the ecological devastation in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Using the historical- critical method of exegesis and comparative and contextual methods it maintains that there is a relationship between the image of  creation painted in Rom 8:19-22 and the ecological situation in the Niger Delta. It holds that since humans played a major role in  rendering the non-material creation incapable of realising its natural goal, humans also have a role to play in its restoration. It further  states that since humanity through the Christ event has been reconciled to God and looks forward to the realisation of the fullness of  such reconciliation, reconciled humans should relate to the rest of creation in such a way that it will also experience the effect of this  reconciliation as it awaits its fullness in future. The paper contributes to the discussion on environmental realised eschatology. 


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eISSN: 2458-7338
print ISSN: 2821-8957