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The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke
"I am quite frankly excited at the appearance of Roger Stronstad's book The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke. Until now people have had to recognize Pentecostalism as a powerful force in the areas of spirituality, church growth, and world mission, but they have not felt it had much to offer for biblical, theological, and intellectual foundations. But this is fast changing, and with the appearance of this book we may be seeing the first motions of a wave of intellectually convincing Pentecostal theology which will sweep in upon us in the next decades."
—From the Foreword by Clark H. Pinnock In recent years, considerable scholarly discussion has occurred regarding the meaning of the Holy Spirit's activity in Luke-Acts. The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke represents a new and fresh approach to this important issue. At the crux of the controversy is the interpretation of the phrases "baptism in the Holy Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit" as used in Luke-Acts. Roger Stronstad argues that, in an effort to harmonize Lukan and Pauline theology of the Holy Spirit, Luke's charismatic emphases have been improperly forced into a mold. Stronstad offers a cogent and thought-provoking study of Luke as a charismatic theologian, whose understanding of the Spirit shaped wholly his understanding of Jesus and of the nature of the Early Church. Writing in the spirit of the finest of biblical scholarship, Stronstad challenges, indeed forces, traditional Protestants to reexamine and reconsider the impact of Pentecost.
—From the Foreword by Clark H. Pinnock In recent years, considerable scholarly discussion has occurred regarding the meaning of the Holy Spirit's activity in Luke-Acts. The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke represents a new and fresh approach to this important issue. At the crux of the controversy is the interpretation of the phrases "baptism in the Holy Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit" as used in Luke-Acts. Roger Stronstad argues that, in an effort to harmonize Lukan and Pauline theology of the Holy Spirit, Luke's charismatic emphases have been improperly forced into a mold. Stronstad offers a cogent and thought-provoking study of Luke as a charismatic theologian, whose understanding of the Spirit shaped wholly his understanding of Jesus and of the nature of the Early Church. Writing in the spirit of the finest of biblical scholarship, Stronstad challenges, indeed forces, traditional Protestants to reexamine and reconsider the impact of Pentecost.
- GenresTheologyNew Testament
Paperback
First published April 5, 2012
About the author
Roger Stronstad
29 books3 followersRoger Stronstad (MCS, Regent College; DD, Christian Bible College) is director and associate professor in Bible and theology at Summit Pacific College in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He is the author of many articles and six books, including The Prophethood of All Believers: A Study in Luke’s Charismatic Theology. He also coedited Life in the Spirit New Testament Commentary.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
July 11, 2015
Ce livre est assez court, une centaine de page. Malgré le titre, j'ai été surpris de découvrir que l'auteur veut s'efforcer de démontrer une théologie charismatique d'un point de vue "pentecôtiste" des deux livres de Luc: l'Evangile de Luc et les Actes des Apôtres.
Le livre commence donc par démontrer que le Saint-Esprit joue un rôle majeur dans les récits de Luc, ce qu'il prouve assez aisément puisque c'est le cas. Ensuite, il souhaite démontrer l'erreur de la plupart des commentaires lorsque les gens limitent le Saint-Esprit a un niveau soteriologique, ce qui fait que l'expérience de la Pentecôte n'est pas seulement une description historique mais aussi une expérience normative pour les croyants. Il continue a essayant de démontrer que l'Ancien Testament le prouve et que c'était le but de Luc et Actes. Il montre aussi que c'est une erreur de lire Paul dans les Actes et conclut que le don du Saint-Esprit est bien une expérience subséquente au salut (bien que les croyants le reçoivent a la conversion) mais qu'il vient une deuxième fois pour la vocation, pour équiper le croyant dans sa tâche dans l'œuvre missionnaire non-achevée par le Messie.
Je comprends son désir, mais la manière dont il fait sa preuve est a l'envers. Premièrement, il appuie sa doctrine du Saint-Esprit sur l'Ancien Testament et applique ensuite ses conclusions sur le NT. Deuxièmement, il affirme qu'un texte à différents buts, dont le dernier est de donner une leçon normative aux croyants d'aujourd'hui. Donc, la Pentecôte n'est pas un événement unique qui démontre une transition de l'histoire du salut, mais il cherche à démontrer comment tous les croyants de tous les âges peuvent vivre une expérience charismatique comme l'ont vécu les 120 premiers chrétiens.
Je crois que le problème principal de l'auteur est qu'il ne comprends pas comment l'évolution de l'histoire du salut fonctionne et pourquoi des événements comme la Pentecôte ont été relaté par Luc non pas pour décrire une expérience normative des croyants, mais pour démontrer la transition de l'esprit donne seulement aux prophètes et Roi a tous les gens qui croient en Jésus! Si l'on voit principalement le récit de la Pentecôte comme principalement un fait historique, affirme-t-il, alors nous n'avons rien à apprendre pour notre vie chrétienne de tous les jours.
Il y a cependant un point positif à souligner. L'un des efforts de cet auteur est de montrer que les gens ont souvent limiter l'Esprit a un Esprit qui sauve mais pas qui équipe en vue du ministère de chaque croyant. Bien qu'il le fait avec une théologie que je crois faussé, il est vrai que l'emphase de Luc démontre l'Esprit non pas seulement d'un point de vue salvateur, mais aussi de celui qui équipe et permet de servir le Seigneur.
Le livre commence donc par démontrer que le Saint-Esprit joue un rôle majeur dans les récits de Luc, ce qu'il prouve assez aisément puisque c'est le cas. Ensuite, il souhaite démontrer l'erreur de la plupart des commentaires lorsque les gens limitent le Saint-Esprit a un niveau soteriologique, ce qui fait que l'expérience de la Pentecôte n'est pas seulement une description historique mais aussi une expérience normative pour les croyants. Il continue a essayant de démontrer que l'Ancien Testament le prouve et que c'était le but de Luc et Actes. Il montre aussi que c'est une erreur de lire Paul dans les Actes et conclut que le don du Saint-Esprit est bien une expérience subséquente au salut (bien que les croyants le reçoivent a la conversion) mais qu'il vient une deuxième fois pour la vocation, pour équiper le croyant dans sa tâche dans l'œuvre missionnaire non-achevée par le Messie.
Je comprends son désir, mais la manière dont il fait sa preuve est a l'envers. Premièrement, il appuie sa doctrine du Saint-Esprit sur l'Ancien Testament et applique ensuite ses conclusions sur le NT. Deuxièmement, il affirme qu'un texte à différents buts, dont le dernier est de donner une leçon normative aux croyants d'aujourd'hui. Donc, la Pentecôte n'est pas un événement unique qui démontre une transition de l'histoire du salut, mais il cherche à démontrer comment tous les croyants de tous les âges peuvent vivre une expérience charismatique comme l'ont vécu les 120 premiers chrétiens.
Je crois que le problème principal de l'auteur est qu'il ne comprends pas comment l'évolution de l'histoire du salut fonctionne et pourquoi des événements comme la Pentecôte ont été relaté par Luc non pas pour décrire une expérience normative des croyants, mais pour démontrer la transition de l'esprit donne seulement aux prophètes et Roi a tous les gens qui croient en Jésus! Si l'on voit principalement le récit de la Pentecôte comme principalement un fait historique, affirme-t-il, alors nous n'avons rien à apprendre pour notre vie chrétienne de tous les jours.
Il y a cependant un point positif à souligner. L'un des efforts de cet auteur est de montrer que les gens ont souvent limiter l'Esprit a un Esprit qui sauve mais pas qui équipe en vue du ministère de chaque croyant. Bien qu'il le fait avec une théologie que je crois faussé, il est vrai que l'emphase de Luc démontre l'Esprit non pas seulement d'un point de vue salvateur, mais aussi de celui qui équipe et permet de servir le Seigneur.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2016
Not the easiest book to read, but very, very worthwhile. I believe that Stronstad has made an extremely significant addition to Pentecostal scholarship with this tome. At only 85 pages or so, it is a slim volume: I call it a "tome" due to its value.
Although I was taught that we must give priority to the didactic passages when we are developing our theology and this is the most commons position I have heard from conservative evangelical scholars and popular writers, Stronstad has permanently convinced me that this is an erroneous emphasis! Rather he points out that Luke was writing within an established genre of the time of historical-theological literature. The Jewish practice of his day was precisely to ground the theology IN the very history of which the writing was about! Thus, the authorial INTENT was not just to tell anecdotes about the life of Jesus and the early days of the Church, but rather to build his theology FROM the historical events! Thus we must pay careful attention to how Luke intends us to view things and not IMPOSE the meaning that Paul places on the same or similar topics.
One powerful example is that Luke uses the terms "Baptized in the Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit" 3 and 9 times respectively while Paul uses these 2 terms once each! But the tendency in scholarship has long been to force the Pauline meaning on how Luke uses these terms rather than exploring what Luke himself intended!
This effectively shattered my previous instruction on this point from my (still) favorite Bible College professor! Stronstad is not a one-trick pony here, he amasses point after point to buttress this sea change in theological understanding. Careful study of this book will bring many other benefits to the student. I highly recommend it.
Although I was taught that we must give priority to the didactic passages when we are developing our theology and this is the most commons position I have heard from conservative evangelical scholars and popular writers, Stronstad has permanently convinced me that this is an erroneous emphasis! Rather he points out that Luke was writing within an established genre of the time of historical-theological literature. The Jewish practice of his day was precisely to ground the theology IN the very history of which the writing was about! Thus, the authorial INTENT was not just to tell anecdotes about the life of Jesus and the early days of the Church, but rather to build his theology FROM the historical events! Thus we must pay careful attention to how Luke intends us to view things and not IMPOSE the meaning that Paul places on the same or similar topics.
One powerful example is that Luke uses the terms "Baptized in the Spirit" and "filled with the Spirit" 3 and 9 times respectively while Paul uses these 2 terms once each! But the tendency in scholarship has long been to force the Pauline meaning on how Luke uses these terms rather than exploring what Luke himself intended!
This effectively shattered my previous instruction on this point from my (still) favorite Bible College professor! Stronstad is not a one-trick pony here, he amasses point after point to buttress this sea change in theological understanding. Careful study of this book will bring many other benefits to the student. I highly recommend it.
May 7, 2012
I disagree with almost every single point the author made in this book, but it is truly a fantastic read.
This book really marked the entrance of Pentecostal theology into the academic realm. This book was ground-breaking. Menzies further developed this line of pneumatology in his 1991 dissertation; this book was too small to really prove with fine detail every one of the arguments the author makes.
But the book is provocative, clear, short, and in my opinion brilliant.
Max Turner (1996, Power from on High) responds to almost all of the arguments presented in this book.
But if you are seeking to understand the current debate of what Luke's view of the Holy Spirit is, I cannot recommend a better starting place than this book.
A point-by-point response to the book can be found at bit . ly / notes_on_stronstad
This book really marked the entrance of Pentecostal theology into the academic realm. This book was ground-breaking. Menzies further developed this line of pneumatology in his 1991 dissertation; this book was too small to really prove with fine detail every one of the arguments the author makes.
But the book is provocative, clear, short, and in my opinion brilliant.
Max Turner (1996, Power from on High) responds to almost all of the arguments presented in this book.
But if you are seeking to understand the current debate of what Luke's view of the Holy Spirit is, I cannot recommend a better starting place than this book.
A point-by-point response to the book can be found at bit . ly / notes_on_stronstad
September 8, 2011
I was very surprised by this book. It was both encouraging and discouraging at the same time. I found that I agreed with most of the biblical understanding of the controversial topic of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I found that encouraging, however, the attitude of the book was borderline arrogant and elitist in expression. It isn't a long read, but it is probably the best book out there with the Pentecostal and Charismatic perspective on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
July 8, 2011
After reading Dunn's pedantic, cold, boring, and combative book on the subject of Spirit baptism and Christian initiation, this book was a breath of fresh air. Stronstad brings keen analysis and insight to the subject, rejecting and refuting Dunn's conclusion. This book gave me a better understanding of Luke's theology.
August 9, 2013
The most persuasive Biblical-Theological argument for a distinct Lucan pneumatology that harmonizes with Pentecostal emphases, even though I don't agree with every single point.
June 14, 2013
powerful and succinct argument for the Spirit's role in mission
June 10, 2014
A fantastic and in depth read examining Luke's charismatic theology of the Holy Spirit and it's prophetic nature.
August 2, 2014
Solid Pentecostal engagement with Luke's pneumatology.
January 30, 2016
Great resource for theological insight
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews