Joel 2:28-32, The Spirit of God, and Prophetic Practices in Nigeria: An Exegetical-Theological Inquiry

References to prophecies, prophetic declarations, prophetic prayer, or a prophetic unction are commonplace in Nigeria, where people claim such utterances as magical gateways to triumphs on many fronts. Joel 2:28–32 is a fundamental text on which the bulk of New Testament and contemporary church discourses on the Spirit of God are based. The Apostle Peter first appropriated this text in his address in Acts 2:17–21. Tis reference to God pouring out his Spirit on the people to enable sons and daughters, men and women, and servants to prophesy, dream, and see visions has been and continues to be defining in discussions on the activity of the Holy Spirit today. Using the exegetical-theological approach in analyzing Joel 2:28–32 and Acts 2:17–21, it was discovered that although the prophecy may have been given primarily for the Jews, its implications based upon Peter’s appropriation of the passage indicate that Pentecost was the ripe time for it to begin coming true. Given that prophetic practices in Nigeria today are quite problematic, this article critiques some “prophetic” practices in Nigeria. This article invites practitioners to rethink prophetic practices in the church in general and the Nigerian church specifically.