What does this research mean for the field?

The biblical narrative of the flight to Egypt in Matthew 2:13-23 provides a theological framework for understanding forced migration, demonstrating that the Christian response to Nigeria's IDP crisis must extend beyond humanitarian aid to include advocacy, social change, and psychosocial support. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore the theological dimensions of displacement through Matthew 2:13-23 in light of Nigeria's internally displaced persons crisis.

June 27, 2026Open Access

Displacement, Divine Protection, and Forced Migration: Re-reading Matthew 2:13–23 in Conversation with Nigeria's Internally Displaced Persons Crisis

Key Points

The aim is to explore the theological dimensions of displacement through Matthew 2:13-23 in light of Nigeria's internally displaced persons crisis.
Utilized historical-critical and African contextual hermeneutics to analyze biblical text.
Engaged with narratives of Nigerian internally displaced persons to draw parallels with scriptural themes.
Advocated for a church response that includes advocacy and psychological support.
Proposed that Jesus' family's displacement serves as a theological lens on vulnerability and divine protection in contemporary contexts.
Identified the need for churches to expand beyond humanitarian aid to include advocacy and social change.
Highlighted themes of resilience and hope prevalent in both biblical text and contemporary displacement experiences.

Abstract

Abstract The displacement of people is an acute humanitarian concern and the Nigerian situation is highly complex with wide-spread internal displacement driven by insurgency, banditry, communal violence and environmental conditions. Although there has been a great deal of research and interest in the political and humanitarian aspects of displacement, little work has been done on the theological implications of the biblical texts. This paper reconsiders the Matthew 2:13-23 text focusing on forced migration and its relevance in the context of the internally displaced persons, (IDP) crisis in Nigeria. Using historical-critical and African contextual hermeneutics, the study proposes that Matthew's description of the flight to Egypt depicts displacement as a theological experience characterized by vulnerability, God's protection, resilience, and hope. The story depicts Jesus and his family as victims of political violence forced to seek refuge, thereby offering a biblical lens to the issues of displacement today. The article uses Nigerian IDP experiences to engage Matthew's narrative, highlighting themes of divine presence, communal suffering and restoration. It also argues that the church's response must go beyond the provision of humanitarian aid to incorporate advocacy, psychological and social support and social change. The study is a contribution to migration theology in the sense that it is an attempt to provide a contextual biblical framework for the Christian response to displacement in Nigeria. Keywords: Displacement, Forced Migration, Internally Displaced, Persons, Migration Theology, African Contextual Hermeneutics

Displacement, Divine Protection, and Forced Migration: Re-reading Matthew 2:13–23 in Conversation with Nigeria's Internally Displaced Persons Crisis

Key Points

Abstract

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