Conceptual Metaphor: Faith as Access to a World of No Limit By Bishop David Oyedepo

Abstract

The use of metaphor in sermons has bridged the gap between physical experiences and abstract spiritual concepts. Bishop David Oyedepo skillfully employs metaphors to make complex theological ideas easier to understand, illustrating the important role of metaphors in religious communication and understanding spiritual experiences. This study therefore, applies Conceptual Metaphor Analysis approach as posited by Lakoff and Johnson (1980). In his sermon, he equates spiritual growth with agriculture, spiritual freedom with physical liberation, and spiritual penetration with physical entry. Faith is portrayed as a shield and trigger, emphasizing its protective and activating roles. Other metaphors include physical submission for spiritual surrender and physical washing for spiritual cleansing, highlighting faith's role in personal transformation and divine protection. The purpose of this study is multifaceted. Firstly, it aims to highlight and group the conceptual metaphors utilized by the preacher in his sermons. Additionally, the study tends to focus on the linguistic features of the conceptual metaphors identified. Finally, the study aims to find out the cultural and theological implications of the metaphors. This study adopts a descriptive research method with the aim of analyzing and explaining the use of metaphors in the sermon of Bishop David Olaniyi Oyedepo.