Old Testament Traditions in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Nigeria: Biblical Interpretations, Practices and Religious Identity

Abstract

The use of Old Testament traditions by African Indigenous Churches raises questions about biblical interpretation, history and the nature of indigenous Christian worship. This paper examines Old Testament use in the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church of Nigeria in terms of the use, biblical correlations, history and religious function of certain practices. Situated within the history of the Aladura movement, the study considers the role of biblical interpretation, prophetic traditions, the experiences of the movement’s founders, and the religious and cultural context of indigenous Nigerian Christianity. Drawing on a historical approach, documentary analysis and relevant scholarly literature, the study examines practices such as anointing with oil, fasting and prayer, distinctive religious garments, and the use of sacred places. The analysis highlights the significance of the Old Testament narratives and concepts as frameworks for understanding and interpreting these practices within C&S religious life. It also distinguishes between identifiable biblical parallels and demonstrable historical evidence of direct borrowing, recognising that similarity alone cannot establish historical transmission. The study therefore argues that the relationship between the Old Testament traditions and C&S worship must be understood through the interaction of biblical interpretation, religious experience, and the historical development of indigenous Christianity, while acknowledging the limits of the available evidence in establishing the origins of particular practices. The paper contributes to Nigerian Church History by clarifying how Old Testament associations can inform the study of indigenous Christian worship without conflating biblical resemblance with proven historical influence.