THE PNEUMATIKOS IN MARK 9:17–19 AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR DISCIPLESHIP IN BENUE STATE
The contemporary Christian landscape in Benue State, Nigeria, is characterized by significant numerical growth, yet this expansion is increasingly decoupled from deep spiritual formation and moral transformation. This seminar paper examines this disconnect, termed the crisis of spiritual competence, by analyzing the concept of the pneumatikos (the Spirit-governed life) through an exegetical study of Mark 9:17–19. Utilizing a historical-grammatical and narrative-critical methodology, the study demonstrates that the disciples' public failure to exorcise the mute spirit (pneuma alalon) was not a programmatic or technical failure, but a theological and relational deficiency characterized by a lack of sustained dependence on divine power. This biblical narrative serves as an interpretive mirror for contemporary discipleship practices in Benue State, where leadership is frequently characterized by functional autonomy, performance-driven spirituality, and a reliance on formulaic deliverance models. By drawing on African contextual hermeneutics, this paper critiques the pragmatism of local deliverances and the academic-ecclesial divide in theological education. It ultimately proposes a pneumatikos-oriented pedagogical framework that integrates continuous spiritual formation, relational mentoring, and a disciplined theology of prayer into pastoral training and church-based discipleship programs in Benue State.
Keywords: Pneumatikos, Mark 9:17-19, discipleship, spiritual competence, spiritual formation, theological education, Benue State.