Engaging with the Holy Spirit: Real Questions, Practical Answers

by Graham A. Cole

Despite the growth of the charismatic movement and Pentecostal churches, people still have questions-and even troubling concerns-about the person and work of the Holy Spirit. These real questions are the burden of this book, which seeks to sequentially address from throughout Scripture six crucial questions that affect a person's relationship to the Spirit:

What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? How does a person resist him? Ought we to pray to the Spirit? How do we quench the Spirit? How do we grieve the Spirit? and How does he fill us? Each chapter is devoted to one question and challenges readers about their relationship with the Spirit and about Christian living in general. Readers are also given key elements for thinking theologically and implications for their belief and behavior. It's a brief, reader-friendly book full of solid, reassuring answers.

Genres: Theology

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

Reviews

[Adam Bradley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing, the more so because it came highly recommended by a pastor whom I deeply respect.

Underlying all six of these questions are unspoken primary questions of pneumatology which aren't even articulated, let alone addressed: How does the Spirit's ministry to unbelievers relate to Gospel preaching such that He can be blasphemed or resisted by the unconverted? What is the Spirit's economic role in the Church and the believers' life that we might pray to Him? What is Paul's concept of a normal Christian life in/by the Spirit that requires us to be filled and not to quench or grieve?

The result is a "doughnut hole" in the middle of the book: ethics as a matter of ecclesiastic technique and a fascination with theological obscurata, but no concept of the Holy Spirit as our active sanctifier and the wellspring of power, comfort, peace and wisdom amidst joy and suffering, abundance and lack, fellowship and adversity.

Read Gordon Fee's "Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God" (or, even better, "God's Empowering Presence") instead.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really just an FAQ paper about blaspheming, praying to, quenching, grieving, and being filled by the Spirit. Lots of assumptions that I still need to explore.

[Mitch Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graham A. Cole presents a solid engagement with the 6 most common questions regarding the Holy Spirit.

-What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?
-How may we resist the Holy Spirit?
-Ought we pray to the Holy Spirit?
-How do we quench the Holy Spirit?
-How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?
-How does the Holy Spirit fill us?

I found this book a helpful foundation for academically (not devotionally) 'Engaging With The [topic of] Holy Spirit'. This work is very well written, and it's structure makes for a concise and easy to follow journey through the six questions.

Each chapter is made up of;
-Introduction to the question,
-past and present perspectives,
-biblical testimony
-theological reflection and a,
-conclusive answer

When I finished this book however, I was found wanting more. Cole presents in each chapter a (very) brief summary of past and present perspectives. I wanted to have a less Anglican biased view of the Holy Spirit, because I feel there is some need to understand the different denominational perspectives, so as the ascertain your own view. I may be expecting too much of a book of this nature, but I do think that he could have placed more weight into that section, as a misunderstanding of the different perspectives of this topic creates confusion amongst believers.

Four out of five stars. Great book on the six questions, just left wanting more, which may indeed have been the purpose of this work. All in all, I will still recommend 'Engaging With The Holy Spirit' to fellow theologians.

[Zachary · Rating 2 out of 5]

My rather low rating for this book has less to with its content than its conceptualization. I understand that Cole has written extensively on the Holy Spirit elsewhere and my suspicion is that the content of this book would have been better suited for an appendix of some kind to that work. There are simply too many theological assumptions at work here for it to be highly profitable as a stand-alone work. With that said, Cole's prose is simple and pleasurable. He seems to concern himself primarily with protestant, primarily evangelical theology, and within that context, I think his treatment of the questions is even-handed, but I was left wanting far more interaction with pre-Reformation, Catholic, and Orthodox theology. (Though I understand the need to choose one's battles.)

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent work on the Holy Spirit. It is clear, biblical, and persuasive. Focussing on six different questions Cole answers and applies the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Beginning with the historical evidence, moving to the biblical data, and then bringing it around to practical theology Cole deals with issues surrounding the Holy Spirit in a worthy manner.

If you've got any questions regarding the Holy Spirit, it's role in the world and our lives, then I'd highly recommended this as being one of the first reads you go to.

[Jeff Bettger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great short read. It is set up as six common questions about the Holy Spirit, so you can read any chapter you like. It references the reformers and the puritans, mainly Calvin, and Owen showing and expounding on theologies that can afford to be re-tooled a bit. I think this book should be grounding and challenging to uber charismatics, and fundies alike. I recommend referring to it often. I know I will.

[Mark A Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is adapted from a series of lectures delivered at Oak Hill College in 2006. Cole’s task is to answer important questions about the Holy Spirit. How can He be grieved? How does He fill us? At each question, he reflects on historical beliefs concerning the matter at hand, then offers theological reflection, and draws practical conclusions. Cole’s work is strong for the most part, though perhaps needed expansion during the transition to book format.

[Cbarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This should be a ready resource for pastors; Cole briefly and adequately tackles six frequently asked questions regarding the Holy Spirit: 1) What is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? 2) How May we resist the Holy Spirit? 3) Ought we to pray to the Holy Spirit? 4) How do we quench the Holy Spirit? 5) How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? 6) How does the Holy Spirit fill us?

[Frode]

Short and to the point, the author poses 6 questions about the Holy Spirit and then answers them from Scripture and church history. It's a great book on a mostly neglected person in the Trinity today.

[Michael Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A helpful little book. The author is very practical and looks at the text in a clear way. Though I did not agree with all of his hermeneutical conclusions, I always saw how he got there and never felt he was far off base. The six question outline was distinct and helpful.

[Jonathan Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Didn't fully agree with the author's perspective on being filled by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, it was a very insightful and great doctrinal piece on the Holy Spirit.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical answers well written. Helpful for those with questions about grieving the Holy Spirit, how the Spirit fills us, praying to the Holy Spirit, etc.

[Matt Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Treats several key questions like issues of "the baptism", "blasphemy against", "grieving the Spirit", etc. For a book its size, it gets stuff done.

[Benoit Guillot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good insights on tough questions about the Holy Spirit. Very relevant to our context and faithful to good exegesis of the Scriptures.

[Philip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very helpful and insightful to some more popular questions.