The Holy Spirit in the New Testament: A Pentecostal Guide, By William A. Simmons alt

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament

A Pentecostal Guide

by William A. Simmons

The Holy Spirit in the New Testament
ebook
  • Length: 248 pages
  • Dimensions: 0 × 0 in
  • Published: October 26, 2021
  • Imprint: IVP Academic
  • Item Code: 4378
  • ISBN: 9780830843787

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In the early church, miraculous workings of the Holy Spirit were normal and normative. Today an ever-increasing number of Christians worldwide self-identify as Pentecostal or charismatic. William A. Simmons argues that this means the church needs a Spirit-centered interpretation of Scripture informed by a Pentecostal lens.

In The Holy Spirit in the New Testament, Simmons provides an accessible New Testament introduction that discusses themes and passages of particular interest to Pentecostal readers. Each chapter explores the presence of the Spirit in a biblical book, then offers devotional applications to help readers respond to the text. In Matthew, for example, we discover that there is no Messianic era apart from the Spirit. For Paul in Romans, the Holy Spirit is the authenticating power and emotive heart of God. And Revelation is permeated with the illuminating voice of the Spirit from beginning to end.

A Spirit-centered reading breaks down divisions between reason and spirit, mind and emotion. This book opens a dialogue between the academy and the church, demonstrating how sound exegesis speaks to Spirit-filled Christians. In the world and writings of the New Testament authors, we continue to encounter the revelatory presence of God.

"William Simmons certainly has his finger on the pulse of global Christianity and the phenomenal growth of the Pentecostal and charismatic movement, as well as the concomitant need for sound and lively theology for this church. He has written a helpful New Testament theology of the Spirit that honors the third person of the Trinity and opens the door for a drawing together of the incarnational and the pneumatic—that is the person and work of the Son and the Spirit—in Christian life and thought. This book may be a further contribution to the movement called 'Third Article Theology,' in which theology is viewed from the lens of the third article of the Nicene Creed. This attempt to overcome dualisms and bring together what is not separated in organic theology—that is exegesis and devotion, theology and praxis, the Christian mind and Christian spirituality and ethics—by the power of the Spirit, by means of a focus on the Spirit in each book of the New Testament, is indeed commendable."

Ross Hastings, Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology at Regent College

"Pentecostals and charismatics read the Bible as the Word of God for us today, insisting that the Spirit actively speaks through the text. That same Spirit, of course, indwells and empowers us as he did the first followers of Jesus. William Simmons builds on these emphases in The Holy Spirit in the New Testament while incorporating thoughtful and practical (another typical Pentecostal value) exegesis of New Testament texts. As a Pentecostal myself, I am grateful for a kindred spirit like Simmons who is also living in that sometimes awkward but also hopeful space between the church and the academy. May his book remind us all that the Spirit is present there as well."

Holly Beers, associate professor of religious studies at Westmont College

"A book like this is long overdue, and Dr. Bill Simmons is the one to address this topic. His years of research, training, and teaching of the New Testament in a Pentecostal setting imminently qualifies him to author The Holy Spirit in the New Testament. It speaks not only to the mind but also to the heart."

Tim Hill, general overseer, Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)

"The Holy Spirit speaks holistically, addressing our mind, our heart, our emotions, and our conduct. The Holy Spirit in the New Testament: A Pentecostal Guide demonstrates the integrated work of the Spirit on every page. This scholarly work is tailored for the ministry of the local church and is an excellent source for small groups as well."

Mark L. Williams, lead pastor, North Cleveland Church of God
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Read an Excerpt

CONTENTS

Preface
Introduction: Why a Pentecostal Guide to the Holy Spirit?
1. The Holy Spirit in Matthew: Hallmark of the Kingdom
2. The Holy Spirit in Mark: Authority and Obedience
3. The Holy Spirit in Luke: Good News for the Poor and Freedom for the Captives
4. The Holy Spirit in John: The Spirit of Truth
5. The Holy Spirit in Acts: A Promise Kept
6. The Holy Spirit in Romans: The Spirit of Adoption
7. The Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians: The Spirit of Wisdom and Grace
8. The Holy Spirit in 2 Corinthians: The Spirit of the New Covenant
9. The Holy Spirit in Galatians: The Spirit of Freedom
10. The Holy Spirit in Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon: The Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation
11. The Holy Spirit in Philippians: The Spirit of Joy
12. The Holy Spirit in 1 and 2 Thessalonians: Eschatology and Ethics
13. The Holy Spirit in the Pastoral Epistles: The Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Control
14. The Holy Spirit in Hebrews: The Testimony of the Spirit
15. The Holy Spirit in James: The Wisdom of God
16. The Holy Spirit in 1 and 2 Peter: God’s Answer to Suffering for Christ
17. The Holy Spirit in the Johannine Epistles: The Spirit of Light and Love
18. The Holy Spirit in Jude: Praying in the Spirit
19. The Holy Spirit in Revelation: The Spirit of Prophecy
Final Thoughts
Scripture Index

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Author of William A. Simmons

William A. Simmons (PhD, University of St. Andrews) is a professor of New Testament and Greek at Lee University, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in the areas of Pauline studies and Koine Greek. He is the author of several books including Peoples of the New Testament World, A Pentecostal Approach to Bible Study: Leader's Guide, and Bible studies on James, Ephesians, and Philippians.

In addition to teaching at Lee, Simmons has taught in Germany, Korea, Honduras, the Philippines, Guatemala, Cuba, and Peru. He lives in Cleveland, Tennessee, with his wife, Lenae.