Trinity After Pentecost: by William P. Atkinson

by William Parsons Atkinson

This book views the triune God from a Pentecostal viewpoint. In so doing, it offers a fresh articulation of the theology of the Trinity that starts with Pentecost and with the Spirit. It concludes that the Trinity cannot be adequately appreciated using any single model—whether social, modal, or psychological. Instead, it presents three models—relational, instrumental, and substantial—that need to be held in paradoxical tension with one another. Of these, the relational is the foremost. Pentecost offers rich potential for seeing these relations between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as a dynamic reciprocal “dance” in which each person empties self in order to exalt the other.“This is an excellent book written in a lucid and lively manner. It makes an important and original contribution to Trinitarian theology from the perspective of Pentecost. . . . It is a must-read for all students and scholars of contemporary pentecostal and charismatic theology.”—Mark J. Cartledge, Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Birmingham, UK“Mysterious yet illuminating! Paradoxical yet clarifying! Opaque yet brilliant! Atkinson shows that starting with the Spirit poured out at Pentecost opens up multiple dissonant and yet altogether coherent tongues and pathways toward a dynamic, perichoretic, and relational theology of the Trinity that anticipates the fullness of eschatological divine glory. No longer is the Spirit the shy, hidden, or neglected Trinitarian member.”—Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Dean, School of Divinity, Regent University“Atkinson’s call for a pneumatological Trinitarianism is reminiscent of Basil of Caesarea, who, among the early church fathers, warned against failing to appreciate the full deity of the Spirit as the third person of the Trinity. Atkinson shows that without an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit given to the church on the day of Pentecost, one’s theology of God is defective and one’s worship of the triune God is diminished. This book is lucidly written and a joy to read.”—Laurence W. Wood, Professor of Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary“ Trinity After Pentecost is further evidence, if proof was needed, that pentecostal theology has come of age. With expert skill, William Atkinson explores the doctrine of the Trinity from the unusual angle of Pentecost. Like a wise tour guide, he takes his readers step-by-step and leads them to some adventurous conclusions. Theologians and practitioners, Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals will be enriched by reading this cleverly titled, engagingly written, and thought-provoking book.”—Derek Tidball, Former Principal, London School of Theology, Past President of Baptist Union of Great BritainWilliam P. Atkinson is Director of Research and a Senior Lecturer in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at the London School of Theology. He is author of the award-winning The “Spiritual Death” of Jesus (2009) and Baptism in the Spirit (2011).

Paperback

First published June 18, 2013

About the author

William Parsons Atkinson, 1820–1890. Educator, and historian.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very well thought out and researched book on the Trinity from a Pentecostal perspective. We are not always clear on what we mean when we say things, even though we understand them within our surplus. This book does an excellent job of baring out what hostiles believe that the Trinity.

[Cameron Coombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pentecostal contribution to trinitarian theology, worth the read for that reason alone