International Journal of Philosophy and Theology June 2015, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 143-149 ISSN: 2333-5750 (Print), 2333-5769 (Online) Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. Published by American Research Institute for Policy Development DOI: 10.15640/ijpt.v3n1a20 URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.15640/ijpt.v3n1a20 The Concept of E lohim and Theos in an Urhobo Cosmological Context: A Biblical Perspective Dr. John Arierhi Ottuh 1 & Revd. Reuben E dafenene Ojighoro 2 Abstract The understanding of E lohim and Theos in the Old and New Testaments respectively relate to the Urhobo understanding of Oghene (the Supreme Being-God). While the Hebrew word E lohim and Greek word Theos mean G od, the Urhobo word Oghene also means God. Using the comparative paradigm as a method, the paper aimed at comparing the concept of E lohim (Old Testament) and Theos (New Testament) with the Urhobo concept of Oghene. The paper showed that the Urhobo nation in Nigeria like the Jews has a name for God and that name is Oghene. The paper also argued that Oghene is the same thing as Elohim and Theos. In both the Jewish, Greco-Roman and Urhobo cultural milieus the concepts of E lohim and Theos revealed an understanding of a Supreme Being who created the universe and all things in it and the object of man’s worship. Whatever name a people know the Supreme Being with should be seen as powerful and should be valued by Christians of such nation and other nations. Keywords: E lohim, Theos , Urhobo Cosmology, Biblical Perspective Introduction Throughout history men have followed the religious faith of their own culture, and the majority has accepted their own faith as the only embodiment of truth. Yet in every religion there has been wise men holding the candle of light by which wisdom can be seen (McDowell and Stewart, 1982, 12). It is a fact that in African traditional belief, God is the explanation of all things, and as such, Africans therefore believe that the environment is knitted to the presence of God because He is the creator of all things (Igboin, 2011, 96). In this same line of understanding, Mbiti (1969: 119) sees God as the explanation of man’s origin and sustenance; it is as if God exists for the sake of man and as such, God’s agents are charged with the responsibility of maintaining law and order in the society. This understanding of God as the creator of all things informs the understanding of peoples of African culture on the name of God. The concept of the Supreme Being is present in every culture. That of the Urhobo is not different. In E nglish speaking countries for instance, the Supreme Being is called God and in Arabic speaking nations, the Supreme Being is called Allah. In like manner, the Urhobo speaking nation calls the Supreme Being Oghene . Within this name, there are other descriptive attachments that make the name more real to the people. This concept is not far fetched in the Bible. While the Old Testament referred to the Supreme Being as E lohim, the New Testament referred to Him as Theos . Using the comparative model as a method, the aim of this study therefore is to compare the concept of E lohim (Old Testament) and Theos (New Testament) with the Urhobo concept of Oghene . Within this interpretation, it is also the aim of this paper to show that whatever name a people know the Supreme Being with should be seen as powerful and should be valued by Christians of such nation and other nations. The comparative model is also within the inculturation paradigm and it seeks to establish similarities and dissimilarities between African and biblical life and thought, and correlate one another (Ukpong, 2006, 7). As a way of decolonization of the Urhobo nation in Africa, the concept of Oghene is to be understood side by side with other popular nations which have their own name for God so that any one visiting Urhobo land from another nation can know God’s name as Oghene and worship Him as such in Urhoboland. 1 Vicar, Winners Baptist Church, Box 1214 E ffurun, Delta State. E mail: wibachef90@ yahoo.com or wibachef90@ gmail.com , Phone: +2348063500579 or +2348024789660 2 Ph.D Student, Delta State University, P.M.B 1, Abraka, Delta State. Email:reubenojighoro@ yahoo.com, Phone: +2348073109641