IDEAL INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL

This article presents a theological and comparative analysis of sacrifice and atonement in the Old Testament and Igbo Traditional Religion. In the Old Testament, sacrificial practices—especially within Leviticus— function as divinely instituted means for addressing sin, restoring covenant relationships, and maintaining ritual purity. Key theological themes include substitution, mediation, holiness, and the centrality of blood. In Igbo Traditional Religion, sacrifice operates within a cosmological framework that emphasizes harmony between humans, divinities, ancestors, and the Supreme Being, Chukwu. Employing a theological–hermeneutical and comparative methodology, this study identifies areas of convergence such as ritual mediation and communal restoration, alongside divergences including covenant theology, monotheism, and the finality of atonement. The study further extends its analysis to the New Testament, particularly the Epistle to the Hebrews, demonstrating the Christological fulfillment of Old Testament sacrificial theology. The article argues that while both traditions share a deep sacrificial consciousness, the biblical framework provides a more systematized and theologically definitive understanding of atonement. The findings contribute to African Christian theology by offering a robust model for contextual biblical interpretation.

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