INTEGRITY JOURNAL OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
Integrity Research Journals
ISSN: 2811-2407
Model: Open Access/Peer Reviewed
DOI: 10.31248/IJAH
Start Year: 2020
Email: ijah@integrityresjournals.org
The cleansing of the temple in John 2:13-22: A metaphor for de-dollarization of the Nigerian economy
https://doi.org/10.31248/IJAH2024.189 | Article Number: 2A0A52F93 | Vol.6 (1) - February 2025
Received Date: 31 December 2024 | Accepted Date: 03 February 2025 | Published Date: 28 February 2025
Author: Alozie Chukwunyere Iroanya
Keywords: Christianity, de-dollarization, religion and politics, social action, solidarity.
The symbolic action of Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple, as recorded in John 2:13-22 highlights the abusive practices that allowed the religious leaders to profit and become wealthy at the expense of the poor and oppressed. Additionally, it reveals the marginalisation of Gentiles, who were forced to worship amidst the distractions and commotion caused by commercial activities within the Temple. This inequality was the central issue addressed by Jesus. Against this backdrop, and anchored in the Christian principle of solidarity, this study employs the historical survey and exegetical methods to advocate for a renewed commitment to Christian discipleship and the common good. Specifically, the concept of solidarity, as demonstrated by God and Christ's identification with the poor, provides a theological foundation for confronting the "globalization of indifference" as well as the dollarization and distortions in the Nigerian economy. The actions of Jesus and the placement of this story within the Fourth Gospel are interpreted as a "call to action" against both physical and spiritual slums that, while prevalent in the first century, persist in contemporary society. Consequently, this study seeks to answer the question: How can the Temple event be utilized to address decades of dollarization and distortions in the Nigerian economy? This study recommends that both the Church and society must exercise power with justice, characterized by love.
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