Prosperity gospel is a false gospel, Nigerian archbishop warns

The ‘prosperity gospel’ that equates material blessings with spiritual holiness is a false gospel and a corruption of Jesus’ teaching, the Archbishop of Nigeria said last month in an interview with an African website.

An interview with Sahara Reporters published on 21 August, Archbishop Nicholas Okoh stated that “what is being presented as prosperity gospel, if not properly defined, can mislead innocent people. More so in a society that already has its values devalued, we could have a moral failure in society.”

Arising from the Wesleyan holiness movement, the prosperity gospel is subset of the pentecostal- charismatic movement. Its theological roots can be found in Wesley’s doctrine of entire sanctification, Florida-based Pentecostal scholar Charlie J Ray notes, coupled with teachings drawn from Christian Science and the “Word of Faith” movement. To read more, click here.