ANGULO ORDORIKA, IANIRE
No
Rev. Biblica
Article
Científica
0
0
01/01/2026
001812032400002
The proliferation of so-called prosperity theology is a phenomenon that warrants close examination. This theological construct is predicated upon a fundamentalist, pragmatic and highly partial reading of Scripture, which appears to revive the most superficial and simplistic version of the theory of retribution found in some Old Testament texts. The classical understanding of divine blessing, which is articulated in the first part of the Bible and is characterised by a prolonged lifespan, substantial material wealth and prolific offspring, appears to substantiate the standpoint advocated by this theological framework. In this article, following a review of the tenets of this religious ideology, the focus will be on its anthropological understanding and the manner in which religious leaders experience it. Secondly, the paper will demonstrate how the four songs of the Servant of Deutero-Isaiah, when viewed synchronically and as a narratively evolving whole, offer an anthropological model that contrasts radically with the ideal presented in prosperity theology.
prosperity theology; Deutero-Isaiah; Song of the Servant; biblical anthropology; corporeality