Two bible college teachers have confirmed in the rape trial of the Leader of Jezreel Lion of Judah Jone Cokanauto that the story of the Samaritan woman in the bible had nothing to do with sex or semen.
The fifth prosecution witness Doctor Reverend Donal McIlraith of Pacific Regional Seminary told the court that the Samaritan woman in the bible was an evangelist and not a prostitute.
When asked by Justice Salesi Temo, Reverend Doctor McIlraith said that there is no mention of the Samaritan woman being a prostitute.
He said the chapter only mentions that she had five husbands.
Justice Temo then asked him about the interpretation of water in this chapter and whether it is equated to sperm.
The prosecution witness said that he never came across that in this chapter.
Justice Temo then again asked him if a woman is being equated to a Temple of God.
The witness told the court that Jesus is a Temple of God.
He also said that every Christian is a Temple of God.
Justice Temo then asked him if there is a need for women to purify their vagina with sperm through sexual intercourse.
The witness said that the only cleansing is through baptism.
The defence counsel then asked the bible school teacher if different churches or denominations have different interpretations of the bible.
The witness agreed.
Reverend Doctor McIlraith said that baptism is done three ways and one of them is to sprinkle holy water on the individual.
Justice Temo asked him to explain if the sprinkling of water is totally different from spilling semen into a vagina.
The bible school teacher then said that the baptism is only done with water and not semen.
He told the court that when Jesus said that he will give water in this chapter he meant that he will give his grace.
The sixth prosecution witness Pastor Manasa Tusulu who is a bible school teacher at World Harvest Centre in Kinoya told the court that Jesus refers to himself when he mentions that he can give the water of life that will spring to eternal life.
During the examination in chief, he told the court that there is no reference to sexual activity in this chapter.
During cross examination, the defence counsel asked him to explain if Cokanauto’s preaching about this chapter means that he would be preaching about salvation.
The witness agreed.
Justice Temo then asked him if salvation means sexual intercourse.
Tusulu said that it means spiritual practice, not sexual intercourse.
Justice Temo then asked him if it is about sexual intercourse with women to cleanse them and if the Samaritan woman was a prostitute.
The sixth witness said that it is not about sexual intercourse and there is no mention of the Samaritan woman being a prostitute.
The defence counsel then asked him if he agrees that sometimes members of the congregation get their own interpretation.
The World Harvest Centre bible school teacher said everyone has their own interpretations in anything and that includes the bible.
During re‑examination, the prosecution counsel asked him if the bible refers to sexual intercourse for redemption of women.
The witness said this is not correct.
The prosecution has closed its case.
The defence counsel said they will file an application for no case to answer.
Simione Valenitabua then said that his client, Jone Cokanauto preached well but people had their own interpretations.
Valenitabua said that Cokanauto did not teach anyone to submit themselves sexually for redemption.
Cokanauto has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape, four counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.
It is alleged that he committed the offences in Nasinu and Taveuni between 2005 and 2012.
The court will continue at 9.30am today.
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