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2000 Years Of Charismatic Christianity: A 21st century look at church history from a pentecostal/charismatic prospective
Overwhelming evidence reveals contemporary Christianity roots in Pentecost!
The world is taking notice and realizing that the fastest-growing segment in Christianity has an undeniable history with a pattern and a rich, deep foundation dating back to the New Testament. Explore overwhelming evidence that reveals how the gifts of the Holy Spirit not only have existed in the centuries since the early apostles, but have also survived the Middle Ages, the politicized church of Europe, and have experienced a spectacular revival this century. Learn invaluable lessons from the experiences of courageous men and women who sought God and saw His power in their generation. The reader of this volume will gain a greater appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in history and will experience a sharpened sense to discern what God is doing in the church today.
2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity offers convincing evidence that the modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements are rooted in the two-thousand-year history of the church. Those who identify with these movements will be affirmed in the experience of the Holy Spirit and will gain a new respect and appreciation for the movement of which they are a part. Those outside the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements will also benefit by reading this volume in that they will gain an understanding of this movement that Harvard professor Dr. Harvey Cox says is "reshaping religion in the 21st century."
The world is taking notice and realizing that the fastest-growing segment in Christianity has an undeniable history with a pattern and a rich, deep foundation dating back to the New Testament. Explore overwhelming evidence that reveals how the gifts of the Holy Spirit not only have existed in the centuries since the early apostles, but have also survived the Middle Ages, the politicized church of Europe, and have experienced a spectacular revival this century. Learn invaluable lessons from the experiences of courageous men and women who sought God and saw His power in their generation. The reader of this volume will gain a greater appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in history and will experience a sharpened sense to discern what God is doing in the church today.
2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity offers convincing evidence that the modern Pentecostal and Charismatic movements are rooted in the two-thousand-year history of the church. Those who identify with these movements will be affirmed in the experience of the Holy Spirit and will gain a new respect and appreciation for the movement of which they are a part. Those outside the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements will also benefit by reading this volume in that they will gain an understanding of this movement that Harvard professor Dr. Harvey Cox says is "reshaping religion in the 21st century."
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1995
48 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Eddie L. Hyatt
54 books8 followersDr. Eddie L. Hyatt is a seasoned minister of the Gospel, having served as a pastor, teacher, missionary, and professor of theology in the U.S. and Canada and having ministered in India, Indonesia, England, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, and Bulgaria. His ministry is characterized by a unique blend of the anointing of the Holy Spirit with academic excellence and over 40 years of ministerial experience.
Eddie has lectured on revival, church history and various Biblical themes in churches, conferences and some of the major educational institutions in the world today. These include Oxford University in England, Oral Roberts University, Zion Bible College, Celebration Bible College, and Christ For the Nations Institute. He has authored several books, including the highly acclaimed 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, which is used as a textbook in colleges and seminaries around the world.
He and his wife, Susan, reside in Grapevine, Texas, from which they carry on a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, and publishing.
Eddie has lectured on revival, church history and various Biblical themes in churches, conferences and some of the major educational institutions in the world today. These include Oxford University in England, Oral Roberts University, Zion Bible College, Celebration Bible College, and Christ For the Nations Institute. He has authored several books, including the highly acclaimed 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, which is used as a textbook in colleges and seminaries around the world.
He and his wife, Susan, reside in Grapevine, Texas, from which they carry on a ministry of teaching, preaching, writing, and publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 5, 2024
This books is a perspective on the presence of the ‘charismata’ or Charismatic presence in Church history, what that means, and how it relates to that which we call “Charismatic” today.
The “pros” of this book are the insistence upon the Holy Spirit doing whatever he wants outside the expectation and permission of his people; and the pointing to the presence of the Holy Spirit, and his “gifts” in each generation, without exception, since Pentecost.
The “cons”, as reflected in the rating, are more far reaching: (1) A reliance on individuals & groups that have been classed as ‘heretical’ by the witness of the body of Christ over the last 2000 years (Chief example in chapter 1 being the use of Montanists, Tertullian and Origen as the authors model heroes. It’s not that one can’t reference them, it’s that it’s simply oddity, and perhaps slightly suspicious, to primarily use three people in early Church history who were labeled: ‘maybe don’t swallow everything they have to say as aspects of their teaching were deeply flawed and even hurtful” as you’re primary authorities and case studies when there are thousands of other primary sources available for use).
(2) a denigration of anything organised, or “institutional” as the author puts it, as being that which stifles the Holy Spirit; as if the Holy Spirit can’t function if there is a sense of order, as if the hard won wisdom of anything passed down by older generations is intended to suppress and control the functioning of the Spirit of God among His people. No doubt this has been the case at many times and places, and that we as people gravitate to that which is safe, comfortable and established instead of the invitation to have our lives shaken by the Spirit of God who frees us from our petty little kingdoms. However, This perspective also ignores the consistent abuses, theological chaos and lack of understanding (in the last few years alone) to guide us forward in the spiritual life that we have been plunged into in the western charismatic world as a result of having little to build upon and throwing the baby out with the bath water each time a new movement begins.
While I appreciated, and soundly agree, with Hyatts thesis that the Holy Spirit has never ceased to function among his people, and that the Charismata is not just necessary, but vital for us today in our complex moment, as in the early generations of the Church, I profoundly push back upon his seeming insistence that we have little to learn from anything ‘traditional’. The Holy Spirit moves today. He is a person and we must learn to walk with him and be subject to Him. But this is in concert with, and not opposed to 2000 years of wisdom on how to crucify the flesh and sow to the spirit (eg. How do we KNOW Christ and be found in Him). We are, after all, living stones knit together to build the body of Christ over the generations, not a building swept aside and restarted at each exciting turn. I would posit that if the ‘Charismatic’ he puts forward in his book is to have a future in the West it will only be compelling long term in tandem with a more deeply rooted and vigorous Christianity than that which we now commonly possess.
The “pros” of this book are the insistence upon the Holy Spirit doing whatever he wants outside the expectation and permission of his people; and the pointing to the presence of the Holy Spirit, and his “gifts” in each generation, without exception, since Pentecost.
The “cons”, as reflected in the rating, are more far reaching: (1) A reliance on individuals & groups that have been classed as ‘heretical’ by the witness of the body of Christ over the last 2000 years (Chief example in chapter 1 being the use of Montanists, Tertullian and Origen as the authors model heroes. It’s not that one can’t reference them, it’s that it’s simply oddity, and perhaps slightly suspicious, to primarily use three people in early Church history who were labeled: ‘maybe don’t swallow everything they have to say as aspects of their teaching were deeply flawed and even hurtful” as you’re primary authorities and case studies when there are thousands of other primary sources available for use).
(2) a denigration of anything organised, or “institutional” as the author puts it, as being that which stifles the Holy Spirit; as if the Holy Spirit can’t function if there is a sense of order, as if the hard won wisdom of anything passed down by older generations is intended to suppress and control the functioning of the Spirit of God among His people. No doubt this has been the case at many times and places, and that we as people gravitate to that which is safe, comfortable and established instead of the invitation to have our lives shaken by the Spirit of God who frees us from our petty little kingdoms. However, This perspective also ignores the consistent abuses, theological chaos and lack of understanding (in the last few years alone) to guide us forward in the spiritual life that we have been plunged into in the western charismatic world as a result of having little to build upon and throwing the baby out with the bath water each time a new movement begins.
While I appreciated, and soundly agree, with Hyatts thesis that the Holy Spirit has never ceased to function among his people, and that the Charismata is not just necessary, but vital for us today in our complex moment, as in the early generations of the Church, I profoundly push back upon his seeming insistence that we have little to learn from anything ‘traditional’. The Holy Spirit moves today. He is a person and we must learn to walk with him and be subject to Him. But this is in concert with, and not opposed to 2000 years of wisdom on how to crucify the flesh and sow to the spirit (eg. How do we KNOW Christ and be found in Him). We are, after all, living stones knit together to build the body of Christ over the generations, not a building swept aside and restarted at each exciting turn. I would posit that if the ‘Charismatic’ he puts forward in his book is to have a future in the West it will only be compelling long term in tandem with a more deeply rooted and vigorous Christianity than that which we now commonly possess.
January 19, 2025
In the preface to his book, 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity, Eddie Hyatt declares his intent to establish that charismatic Christianity is indeed within the bounds of orthodox and historic Christianity. However, by the end of the book, I remained unconvinced.
Eddie cites the experiences of heretical groups such as the Montanists with approval. He also continues throughout the book to reference questionable figures such as William Branham, Kenneth Hagin, and Oral Roberts, among others, whose views would be a stretch to describe as orthodox. Montanus, for example, claimed to be the Holy Spirit—a claim no sane person would make. Branham claimed to be Elijah, or at least his second coming, and even predicted the return of Christ.
Eddie seems to believe that theology does not matter, as he attempts to prove his claim by including many sects and individuals with varying and often contradictory doctrines. He appears to think of the Holy Spirit only as the Spirit of power, rather than also the Spirit of truth. His cannot be the Holy Spirit described in the New Testament scriptures, who is the embodiment of truth.
Scripture is supreme, even above experiences, however convincing they might be. Let God’s Word be true and every man a liar.
Eddie cites the experiences of heretical groups such as the Montanists with approval. He also continues throughout the book to reference questionable figures such as William Branham, Kenneth Hagin, and Oral Roberts, among others, whose views would be a stretch to describe as orthodox. Montanus, for example, claimed to be the Holy Spirit—a claim no sane person would make. Branham claimed to be Elijah, or at least his second coming, and even predicted the return of Christ.
Eddie seems to believe that theology does not matter, as he attempts to prove his claim by including many sects and individuals with varying and often contradictory doctrines. He appears to think of the Holy Spirit only as the Spirit of power, rather than also the Spirit of truth. His cannot be the Holy Spirit described in the New Testament scriptures, who is the embodiment of truth.
Scripture is supreme, even above experiences, however convincing they might be. Let God’s Word be true and every man a liar.
July 17, 2014
Augustine of Hippo lamented in the 5th century that charismatic gifts were LESS abundant because of sinful lifestyles. What? They didn't stop in 70 AD?
May 25, 2017
This book was amazing and a perfect edition to the desk of pastors and teachers of God's word. For those who have bought into the lie that the "charismata" or gifts of the Spirit ceased in 100 A.D. as some wrongly teach, this book is eye opening! It will provide direct references to church fathers and prominent Christian leaders who have experienced the charismata throughout the history of the Christian church. With those references, you can make your own historical search and begin to learn that Holy Spirit has moved powerfully since the days of the first Apostles. Hyatt only briefly addresses certain issues because his point is to show the charismata has been the same for 2000 years - thus, he covers much time in little space. Some may see that as not "proof" enough, but the great news is you can use the references he provides to seek it out for yourself in a more in-depth fashion. Hyatt is a great historian of the church and this book is an excellent faith builder in all that God is doing today through miracles, signs, and wonders.
October 30, 2022
This is a great book that presents evidence that the gifts of the Spirit were in operation at various times throughout Christian history. It does not claim that 1,000s of people were operating with the gifts, it merely presents the evidence that the gifts were in operation by this person, or that person, thus PROVING that the functioning of the gifts did NOT end.
It also presents a little evidence that the reason they ended was not a withdrawal of the gifts by the Holy Spirit, but because of church institutionalization.
Presents factual information, and is an interesting read.
It also presents a little evidence that the reason they ended was not a withdrawal of the gifts by the Holy Spirit, but because of church institutionalization.
Presents factual information, and is an interesting read.
May 21, 2024
Main reason why I became Catholic. This book gives an unbiased and simple exposition on an often neglected topic in the Church’s tradition. Hyatt presents the controversies and victories of many of these extraordinary leaders in a thought-provoking manner and is well-paced. I plan on referring to this book many times. This book presented important aspects of various denominations and sects of Christianity that I have never and likely will not often see again in other books.
April 22, 2025
Wonderful Perspective on the Charismatic/Pentecostal Timeline
I never thought of a timeline of the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement and how tied it is to what Jesus instructed in leaving the “Counselor” upon His ascension. The 20th century revival, somewhat like Luther’s Protestant movement of 1517, was merely a return to the original plans. Great, instructional reading.
I never thought of a timeline of the Charismatic/Pentecostal movement and how tied it is to what Jesus instructed in leaving the “Counselor” upon His ascension. The 20th century revival, somewhat like Luther’s Protestant movement of 1517, was merely a return to the original plans. Great, instructional reading.
January 18, 2019
This opens your eyes to the truth about the Charismatic movement amazing how the truth was hidden for so long. An eye opener
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September 3, 2020The church has always been charismatic, it just depends 'where' you look.
November 23, 2022
Very encouraging to someone who may be seeking more in their life with Jesus Christ
February 9, 2024
Surprised that Harvest ministries, Katherine Kuhlmann and others are not mentioned
September 28, 2024
Great general outline of the charismata in church history. However, was way too sympathetic to Montanus.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2021
Eddie L. Hyatt attributes the rareness of the charismata due to the impurity and lack of morality in the church during the first few centuries after the Apostles, which is understandable. However, it is extremely bizarre how he mentions well known heretics, gnostics, dualists, and mystics who claimed to have had divine revelation and spiritual experiences to present his case. This was clearly esoteric, and not exoteric; the experiences these people claimed to have had and the revelation they claimed to have received sounds more like gnosticism than what is written in the New Testament. These experiences were limited to a few special people, there was no mention of edification in a church setting (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:7).
Two of the heretical movements Eddie Hyatt writes positively about are Montanism and Catharism. If I was attempting to present a positive case for charismatic renewals in the first few centuries, I wouldn’t reference gnostics in my argument. That would be disastrous.
Before Montanus—the founder of Montanism—is said to have converted to Christianity (somewhere around A.D.70), he was a priest in an Asiatic cult called Cybele. Montanus, along with Priscilla and Maximilla, believed that they were receiving special revelation from the Lord while being in an ecstatic state; this ecstatic and irrational style of prophesying was likened to the same style that was common in the Asiatic cult, Cybele, which Montanus apparently converted from. One of his failed prophecies were about Christ’s return; he believed that Christ was about to return and set up the New Jerusalem in the vicinity of the town of Pepuza in Phrygia, Asia Minor. Shockingly, that turned out to be false. But I doubt that would bother someone like Eddie Hyatt.
This is what Eusebius, a church historian born around A.D. 260-270, wrote about Montanus: “In his lust for leadership, he became obsessed and would suddenly fall into frenzy and convulsions. He began to be ecstatic and speak and talk strangely, and prophesied contrary to that which was the custom from the beginning of the church. Those who heard him were convinced that he was possessed. They rebuked him and forbade him to speak, remembering the warning of the Lord Jesus to be watchful because false prophets would come” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 5.16.1).
The Cathari, meaning “pure ones,” were a group of medieval ascetics. They believed that everything physical was created by the (evil) god of the Old Testament, while everything spiritual was created by the (good) god of the New Testament. They were dualists, and they didn’t believe that heaven and earth was created by the same God (Genesis 1:1; cf. John 1:1; Psalm 33:6). They also believed that salvation was acquired through a ritual known as consolamentum, which was similar to baptism, with the addition of speaking in tongues and fasting. A Cathar would undergo the consolamentum as late in life as possible, since any pleasure experienced or taken in this world after the ritual would disqualify him from ascending to heaven.
This book is extremely deceptive and unhelpful, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
Two of the heretical movements Eddie Hyatt writes positively about are Montanism and Catharism. If I was attempting to present a positive case for charismatic renewals in the first few centuries, I wouldn’t reference gnostics in my argument. That would be disastrous.
Before Montanus—the founder of Montanism—is said to have converted to Christianity (somewhere around A.D.70), he was a priest in an Asiatic cult called Cybele. Montanus, along with Priscilla and Maximilla, believed that they were receiving special revelation from the Lord while being in an ecstatic state; this ecstatic and irrational style of prophesying was likened to the same style that was common in the Asiatic cult, Cybele, which Montanus apparently converted from. One of his failed prophecies were about Christ’s return; he believed that Christ was about to return and set up the New Jerusalem in the vicinity of the town of Pepuza in Phrygia, Asia Minor. Shockingly, that turned out to be false. But I doubt that would bother someone like Eddie Hyatt.
This is what Eusebius, a church historian born around A.D. 260-270, wrote about Montanus: “In his lust for leadership, he became obsessed and would suddenly fall into frenzy and convulsions. He began to be ecstatic and speak and talk strangely, and prophesied contrary to that which was the custom from the beginning of the church. Those who heard him were convinced that he was possessed. They rebuked him and forbade him to speak, remembering the warning of the Lord Jesus to be watchful because false prophets would come” (Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 5.16.1).
The Cathari, meaning “pure ones,” were a group of medieval ascetics. They believed that everything physical was created by the (evil) god of the Old Testament, while everything spiritual was created by the (good) god of the New Testament. They were dualists, and they didn’t believe that heaven and earth was created by the same God (Genesis 1:1; cf. John 1:1; Psalm 33:6). They also believed that salvation was acquired through a ritual known as consolamentum, which was similar to baptism, with the addition of speaking in tongues and fasting. A Cathar would undergo the consolamentum as late in life as possible, since any pleasure experienced or taken in this world after the ritual would disqualify him from ascending to heaven.
This book is extremely deceptive and unhelpful, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
April 20, 2010
An unconvincing look at church history though Pentecostal/Charismatic blinders. If you believe this author, every movement in church history was signified by what we now recognize as aspects of Pentecostal or Charismatic worship, such as miraculous healings, speaking in tongues, et al. Even if a character of which the author approves wasn't known to speak in tongues or manifest "spiritual gifts," don't worry, because apparently someone on the periphery of their group certainly did. This author also brings some early heretical groups back into the orthodox fold simply because they were tongues talkers. He assumes that since some of these groups left little of their own writings, and they are generally known through the works of those who opposed them, then they must have been merely misunderstood and their enemies uncharitable. As the book enters the modern era, well-meaning believers are lumped in with more recent heretics, kooks, and obvious charlatans in a undiscerning mash-up. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
October 9, 2024
An excellent primer for those interested in church history. Hyatt explains the struggles the charismatic souls throughout the generations. Branded as heritics, demonized, witches...they have met opposition each time the Spirit of God stirs the waters around churches and governments. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to know, in an easy read, what happened to get us where we are at in Christianity.
October 1, 2023
This book has opened my eyes to the wonderful history of the moving of the Holy Spirit. It's a book I'll cherish and will be reading again in addition to seeking out other works on the people mentioned in this book. This is a great, easy read! You won't get bogged down in theology or dates.
March 4, 2012
If you think the whole of Charismatic history can be summed up by whether or not a certain group spoke in tongues, then this book is for you.
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November 6, 2016Read during my first year at Rhema - It was a wonderful book about the lessons of the past!
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews