A Pentecostal Hermeneutic: Spirit, Scripture And Community

by Kenneth J. Archer

In this state of the art study, Kenneth J. Archer provides the most detailed and comprehensive analysis of Pentecostal Hermeneutics to date. Archer identifies the hermeneutical filter through which the Pentecostal story and identity is understood and meaning is made, with specific attention given to the Central Narrative Convictions of the Pentecostal Community. The model here proposed builds upon the tridactic negotiation for meaning that draws upon the biblical text, the Pentecostal community, and the role of the Holy Spirit. Archer offers a significant paradigm for all those interested in the topic of Pentecostal hermeneutics and its significance for contemporary belief and practice. 'Archer has provided . . . an insightful proposal for the kind of Pentecostal hermeneutic that is appropriate to our contemporary context.' (R. Bauckham, Prof of NT, Univ of St Andrew's, UK).

308 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2009

Reviews

[Chaim Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archer really pushes the discussion in Pentecostal hermeneutics with a serious post critical perspective in this volume. By concerning himself with finding the reader’s place in the creation (and discovery) of meaning, Archer rejects the subjective-objective dichotomy in favor of narrative criticism bounded by the Spirit and the community. While this method has gained some steam in the field since this published, it will be interesting to evaluate if it acts as a reconciling method between modern and reader response methods that Archer hopes it will. Great read, gets dense at points and for good reason, for those interested in the method of hermeneutics or where Pentecostal biblical studies *might* be going.

[Phil Aud · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling and important contribution to the burgeoning field of Pentecostal hermeneutics.

[Mike Mullen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book maybe important for PentecostalTheology proper, as there has been so little of it in the past decades, yet this book is written as a doctorate dissertation, and is difficult, repetitive, and long. The basic thesis is that pentecostal hermeneutics can and should be built upon scripture, experience, tradition, and church life. This is very similar to Wesley's understanding of interpretation. While the contribution is appreciated, I hope that soon there will be a better resource for us pentecostal thinkers, which should incorporate and dialog much of Archer's work.