Benjamin Vah is both a theology student at Faculté de Théologie Évangélique de l’Alliance Chrétienne (FATEAC) in Cote d’Ivoire, on the Ivory Coast, and a pastor with the CMA Church of Côte d’Ivoire. In a nation with many cultural and spiritual challenges, the African Bible Commentary, published by Langham Partnership has been a valuable resource for him in his studies and sermons.
Originally from Béoumi in central Côte d’Ivoire, and a member of the Baoulé tribe, Benjamin serves as a pastor in Duékoué, a western region of the country known for agriculture and marked by periods of political unrest. Benjamin believes many Christians have responded by turning more intentionally toward God, strengthening their faith and commitment to church life, “It has helped most of the members to even get closer to God and they continue to build up their faith on whatever they have experienced. But then also they’re really engaged in the life of the church,” he shares.
At the same time, the region’s spiritual openness has made it particularly vulnerable to religious exploitation. He shares, “It is an agricultural zone which has a lot of plantations and it also does attract a lot of false pastors and prophets that go there with false teaching to mislead the believers.” Benjamin explains that false teaching in this context often draws on Africa’s long-standing spiritual traditions. He explains, “In Africa, there is a cultural heritage talking about spirituality. So what most of these false teachers do is to actually emphasise on those spiritual rituals that were happening back in the day, putting it back into the prayer movement and misleading people to eventually trust in those rituals instead of trusting in God, and making God the source of their belief.”
Benjamin has personally witnessed the damage this can cause. In a nearby church, he observed a leader elevating himself to become like a God. “There was a man of God who eventually made himself to become like a guru and people began considering him like God…Whatever sign or whatever ground he walked on, people would grab those hoping to get healed from that man,” he shares.
The result, Benjamin says, is spiritual confusion and decline. “They end up trusting in man instead of really trusting and hoping in God.” Over time, such practices cause believers to drift away from sound doctrine and from a genuine relationship with God.
These experiences convinced Benjamin that theological education is not optional for church leaders, it is essential. “As the Bible says, ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge.’ And I believe that knowledge is needed and we are the leaders of the church that are responsible into getting that necessary training and going back to teach the people because if they understand what is truthful about the Word of God, they will end up putting aside any ritual that does not fall in line with the Word of God and the will of God for their lives.”
Biblical books, such as the Africa Bible Commentary, are helping pastors and leaders grow and learn to address some of these challenges that they see in their countries. Unlike many theological texts written from Western perspectives, this commentary is authored by African scholars who understand local cultures, histories, and spiritual landscape. Benjamin shares, “This book is an important book and it was one of those books which was really needed, as it is written by African authors that do understand the African context. It really helps us address all the challenges that are related to the context here.”
Benjamin uses the commentary in two key ways: for sermon preparation and for academic research. Its contextual approach helps him shape ideas and methods that speak directly to African realities while remaining faithful to the biblical text.
His current dissertation focuses on interest-bearing loans, a subject with implications in African communities. Drawing on a commentary on Deuteronomy 28 by Ngewa, as well as related articles in the commentary has brought clarity. “When you begin to read the Commentary, it starts with an African proverb which takes you back into the core and heart of the subject. It has really helped me narrow my way of developing and working on the dissertation.”
Other articles, including work on slavery, which continues to impact today, have also shaped his thinking. “One of the articles written [in the African Bible Commentary] by Professor Powell, was developing on slavery…his approach to the article has helped me really understand and define what it means and has helped bring into context the reality of what we face on a daily basis,” Benjamin shares.
For Benjamin, the challenge facing African pastors is clear. The Bible was written in a specific historical and cultural context, yet its message must be faithfully translated into today’s African settings. Resources such as the Africa Bible Commentary have helped bridge the gap by honoring both the authority of Scripture and the realities of African life. He shares, “I would really like to congratulate and commend on the African Bible Commentary which actually does take into account our context as the Word of God speaks into our context.”
When Benjamin completes his studies, he expects to return to pastoral ministry wherever his church sends him. He also hopes to pursue further education in the future. Please pray for Benjamin as he completes his studies, and that God would use him to equip the Church and bring the hope of the gospel to Côte d’Ivoire.
If you would like to equip more leaders in the Majority World, please click below.