An Empirical Study of the Relationship Between Biblical Literacy and Moral Decision-Making Among Nigerian Christian Adults

The assumption that biblical literacy translates into stronger moral decision-making is a foundational premise of Christian education, yet empirical examination of this relationship among Nigerian Christian adults in a comparative denominational context has not been systematically conducted. This study empirically examines the relationship between biblical literacy and moral decision-making quality among Christian adults across multiple Nigerian denominations. A quantitative correlational design was adopted, with structured questionnaires administered to 500 adult church members from five denominations (Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Assemblies of God, and Deeper Life) across Lagos, Kano, and Enugu. Biblical literacy was assessed through a validated 40-item biblical knowledge and hermeneutical skills instrument. Moral decision-making quality was assessed through a moral scenario response instrument covering ten contextual ethical dilemmas relevant to Nigerian Christian life (including bribery, sexual ethics, business honesty, gender equity, and social justice). Multiple regression and moderation analyses were conducted. Results indicate a significant positive relationship between biblical literacy and moral decision-making quality (r = 0.43, p < 0.001). However, the relationship is moderated by intentionality of biblical application: respondents who report deliberately applying biblical teaching to ethical decisions show significantly stronger moral reasoning than those with equivalent biblical knowledge but lower application intentionality. The study makes an original empirical contribution and recommends that Christian education programmes strengthen the bridge between biblical content and ethical application. Keywords: biblical literacy, moral decision-making, Nigerian Christians, empirical study, Christian ethics