A theology that ignores the concrete life situations of people and their improvement falls
short of its task. The author seeks to develop a contribution to theology taking concrete
African living conditions as its starting point in the light of the 'fullness of life' (Jn 10
10) by linking a personal with a pastoral-biblical reflection on the meaning of salvation. The
work initiates a theological dialogue between the biblical notions of redemption-salvation and
the teachings of the Second Vatican Council vis-à-vis the Nigerian culture. Going to the
Semitic and Greek roots of 'salvation' the work shows how the Igbo language-culture can enrich
and be enriched by it. Biblically in the Old Testament salvation is a gift of God covering
bodily social personal and interpersonal well-being. The transition from the Old to the New
Testament brings a change of meaning in so far as salvation is bound up with the person of
Jesus and his care for the human person. Consequently the thesis intends to contribute to the
realization of integral salvation in the Nigerian context in the light of the Church's mission
in Africa using Ecclesia in Africa as a reference.
