An African’s perspective on leadership in the Book of Titus

Abstract

Leadership is central in Paul‘s letter to Titus. Previous studies have focused more on the arguments surrounding its Pauline authorship and the advice it gives on the pastoral care of the receiving communities, rather than the letter‘s contribution to the success of leadership in the Greco-Roman society. This paper, therefore, investigates leadership in Titus through the lens of an African leader who recognises that his people are also part of a society in which their aspiration to have credible leadership remains limited, albeit in more subtle ways than in Greco-Roman society. Using Abogunrin‘s approach to decolonising biblical interpretation in Africa, this paper reveals that leadership in the African context and in Titus is similar to some degree. It highlights the likely obstacles to credible leadership that bedevil contemporary Nigeria.

Keywords: African leader, Decolonising biblical interpretation, Greco-Roman society, Leadership in Titus, Letter to Titus