A Theology of the Holy Spirit; The Pentecostal Experience and the New Testament Witness

by Frederick Dale Bruner

Bruner’s study grows out of the questions he grappled with during his graduate work on the Pentecostalism and Holy “Is the Pentecostal teaching on the experience of the Spirit in conformity with the New Testament teaching? Is Acts represented by Pentecostalism today? Should Christians seek a second, what is sometimes called a Pentecostal, experience subsequent to their Christian initiation?” His text offers a thorough exposition of New Testament texts relating to the Holy Spirit, and critical examination of the Pentecostal movement and experience of the Spirit, particularly the Scriptural basis claimed for the theology of the second blessing. Both thorough and clear, this book combines scholarly research with constructive commentary on the life and mission of the contemporary church.

Genres: Theology

392 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1970

Reviews

[Alexandru Croitor · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Holy Spirit is given by God alone through the vox humanum of the gospel as the Father's promise and is simply received by men in Christ's name as a free gift through faith sealed in baptism." This is, in Bruner's words, the main thing Luke wants to settle in Acts; the themes of "the Holy Spirit as God's promise", "Christian preaching" and "Christian baptism" ultimately resolve to: "that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." (Gal 3:14).

The first part of the book deals with the historical and doctrinal aspects of Pentecostalism. The line through which Pentecostalism came can be quite easily recognized - prima facie - if we keep in mind the American context in which it grew out from. A mixture of Wesleyan 'Holiness" perfectionism and Finneyistic revivalism that found a fertile "modern" soil. Despite being published in 1970, it really gets to the core of what it means to be a Pentecostal (its main tenets are quite well-defined, gathering information from major proponents of Pentecostalism, not only American, but also European).

The second part is actually the "actual" critical examination. It places the Pentecostal claims near the text of the Scripture, going through the major passages in Acts that ground the Pentecostal theology. He then proceeds to providing a New Testament witness of the work of the Spirit and His connection to that of the Son. This is Bruner's (and also mine) concern regarding Pentecostalism: its lack of focus on Christ's sufficient work. The Holy Spirit's work is a Christocentric work. The Holy Spirit testifies about Christ and any seeking of the Spirit apart from Christ (or even worse - "after receiving Christ") dangerously borders on the boundaries of Trinitarian orthodoxy.
"God is a moving God . . . . He seeks us in the Son; he reaches us in the Spirit; he brings us by the Spirit to the Son and in him to the Father."(Hendrikus Berkhof)

Also, shifting the emphasis from the Holy Spirit as "gift" or "promise" to something to which is sought after completing some conditions easily makes it a "reward".

He doesn't talk at all about the issue of continuation or cessation of the revelatory gifts, even though he touches upon Paul's epistles to the Corinthians. He does so more to counter the "second blessing", "higher life" spirituality that stirred the Corinthians.

Overall, a great read especially for the Acts passages and its context and also for a proper Trinitarian pneumatology.

[Mark Rosekelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generous understanding of the pentacostal perspective followed by complete exegesis of the relavent text. For the most part he steers clear of exaggerating the other viewpoint or hyperbole. He makes a strong argument against the second baptism perspective. He does not make an argument for the lack of tongues but simply the failure of scripture to teach that this is a necessary evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

[Luke Rasmussen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 straight forward, helpful and well written.

[Scott Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference book on understanding the so-called "Pentecostal" passages of the Bible, especially those found in the book of Acts. However I found the sections dealing with 1 Corinthians 12 & 14 to be less satisfactory (instead, I recommend Charles Hodge's commentary on First Corinthians). Also, Bruner's somewhat neo-orthodox views occasionally surface in this otherwise excellent commentary!

[David Bickel]

Highly recommended by a former Lutheran pastor (Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod).

[John Wiley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting work on Pneumatology

[Milton Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this enlivening and enlightening. His work is superlative!

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talbot Course: Systematic Theology 3: Christ, Salvation & Holy Spirit