Pastor Tobi Adegboyega claims colonizers inserted Bible verses to control Africans, sparking debate among scholars and religious communities.
Controversial UK-based Nigerian preacher Tobi Adegboyega has sparked intense debate after alleging that European colonizers inserted specific Bible passages to subjugate Africans during the colonial era. The founder of Salvation Proclaimers Anointed Church (SPAC Nation) made the remarks in a viral video, arguing that Christianity was strategically used as a political tool to build Western empires.
In the trending clip, Adegboyega claimed that verses such as Epistle to the Ephesians 6:5 which references servants obeying earthly masters were deliberately added to enforce obedience among colonized populations. According to him, European powers “weaponised” religion to manipulate African leaders and communities into submission while consolidating economic and political control.
He further described Christianity as a “social construct,” suggesting that it functioned as a system designed to regulate African societies for colonial benefit. In one of the most controversial parts of his speech, he alleged that religion was used to psychologically condition Africans while they were exploited, adding that Western nations have since distanced themselves from the faith after achieving their objectives.
However, historians and biblical scholars have strongly pushed back against these claims. Experts note that the New Testament writings, including the Book of Ephesians, date back to the 1st century AD within the Roman Empire centuries before European colonization of sub-Saharan Africa. They also point to Africa’s deep-rooted Christian heritage, particularly in Ethiopia, where Christianity became an established religion as early as 330 AD under the Kingdom of Aksum.
Scholars argue that while colonial powers may have misused religion to justify exploitation and oppression, there is no credible historical evidence that European colonizers altered biblical manuscripts to insert new teachings. Instead, they emphasize that the Bible’s texts were widely circulated in multiple regions long before the transatlantic slave trade or European imperial expansion into Africa.
Public reaction to Adegboyega’s remarks remains sharply divided. Supporters view his comments as a wake-up call, urging Africans to critically examine the historical relationship between religion and colonial power structures. Critics, on the other hand, describe the claims as historically inaccurate and inflammatory, warning that such narratives risk oversimplifying complex historical realities.
ALSO READ: Tinubu Reappoints NSCDC Commandant Amid Handover Tensions, Extends Tenure by Five Years
The debate highlights enduring tensions around faith, history, identity, and colonial legacy. As conversations continue across social media and religious communities, the controversy underscores a broader generational shift in which more Africans are openly questioning long-standing religious and historical narratives.