An Original Trinitarian Theology of Community for Addressing Social Fragmentation in Nigeria

Social fragmentation along ethnic, religious, and class lines is one of the most pressing challenges facing Nigeria as a nation, and theology has a potentially significant contribution to make in providing normative frameworks for community reconstruction. This study develops an original trinitarian theology of community for addressing social fragmentation in Nigeria, drawing on the social Trinity, African ubuntu philosophy, and Nigerian communal wisdom traditions. A constructive systematic theology methodology is employed through six stages: exegetical-theological analysis of trinitarian community texts (John 17, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Ephesians 4) and New Testament community narratives (Acts 2, 15; Galatians 3:26 to 29); critical engagement with social trinitarian theologies from Jürgen Moltmann, Miroslav Volf, and Colin Gunton; contextual analysis of Nigerian social fragmentation through empirical interviews with 35 community leaders, theologians, and social scientists across six geopolitical zones; integration of African ubuntu personhood philosophy and Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa communal ethics as contextual theological resources; original constructive synthesis; and validation through a national theological colloquium engaging 30 expert respondents. Original contributions include a Perichoretic Community Model that translates trinitarian mutual indwelling into ecclesial and social ethics, a Theology of Covenanted Plurality for Nigeria's multi-ethnic context, and a Trinitarian Social Ethics Framework with specific implications for Nigerian church practice in divided communities. The theology makes an original and significant contribution to both African systematic theology and Nigerian social ethics.

Keywords: trinitarian theology, social fragmentation, Nigerian community, original contribution, African theology