The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century

by Vinson Synan

Called "a pioneer contribution" by Church History when it was first published in 1971 as The Holiness-Pentecostal Movement in the United States, this volume has now been revised and enlarged by Vinson Synan to account for the incredible changes that have occurred in the church world during the last quarter of the twentieth century. Synan brings together the stories of the many movements usually listed as "holiness," "pentecostal," or "charismatic," and shows that there is an identifiable "second blessing" tradition in Christianity that began with the Catholic and Anglican mystics, that was crystallized in the teaching of John Wesley, and that was further perpetuated through the holiness and Keswick movements of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to the appearance of modern Pentecostalism. Synan then chronicles the story of the spread of Pentecostalism around the world after the heady days of the Azusa Street awakening, with special attention given to the beginnings of the movement in those nations where Pentecostalism has become a major religious force. He also examines the rise of various mainline-church charismatic movements that have their roots in Pentecostalism. Because of the explosive growth of the Pentecostal movement in the last half of the century, Pentecostals and Charismatics now constitute the second largest family of Christians in the world after the Roman Catholic Church. "This could well be the major story of Christianity in the twentieth century," writes Synan. "Pentecostalism has grown beyond a mere passing 'movement' . . . and can now be seen as a major Christian 'tradition' alongside the Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Reformation Protestant traditions."The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition will continue to be an important handbook for shaping our understanding of this phenomenon. 

Genres: History, Theology, Religion, Christian, Church History

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 31, 1997

Reviews

[Brian Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

In chapter one of The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition, Synan roots the origins of Pentacostalism in the teachings of John Wesley. He notes the influence of William Law as well as Jeremy Taylor, Thomas à Kempis, Madame Guyon, François de Sales, Félon, etc. Wesley's teaching of Christian perfection is a key root. This develops into an idea of a second blessing. Also significant to the development of Pentecostalism are the frontier revival meetings with the ecstasies manifested by the participants. Finney's teaching on perfectionism with his addition teaching that it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit that brings about entire sanctification contributes. Chapter 2 discusses the importance of post-Civil War holiness camp meetings, divisions in the Methodist church and a denominational rejection of the Holiness movement, and the development of new Holiness denominations. Also notes these new denominations rose up in areas where political populism was most prominent. Subsequent chapters document in greater detail the emergence of many different Pentecostal groups. Chapter 5 recounts the emergence of Tongues speaking in 1900 at the Bethel Bible School of Topeka Kansas and the events at Azusa Street which served as a catalyst for the spreading of Pentecostal teaching. Chapter 8 details controversies surrounding and within Pentecostalism: opposition from non-holiness Pentecostal groups, opposition from within to Spirit-baptism as a second blessing, oneness or Jesus-only Pentecostalism, and so forth. Chapter 10 includes sections that deal with Pentecostals relations to other groups: fundamentalists, evangelicals, and charismatics. Chapter 11 details the movement of Pentecostalism from the fringes of American church life to a place of greater respectability among evangelical and mainline churches and the development of an inter-denominational charismatic movement. Chapter 12 tells the similar story in connection with Roman Catholicism. Chapter 13 discusses the spread of the charismatic movement within various denominations from the 1970s through 1990s. It includes discussions of the Shepherding movement, Peter Wagner's Third Wave, the Vineyard churches, and the Toronto Blessing.

As the dean of the School of Divinity at Regent University (founded by Pat Robertson), Synan writes as an insider to the holiness-Pentecostal tradition. His research is careful and he includes both positive and negative aspects of the tradition. Nonetheless, many of the aspects of the story that Synan sees as positives are troubling: its emergence from the doctrinally flawed holiness theology and revivalism of the Second Great Awakening, the eventual embrace by mainline denominations and ecumenical organizations, and the acceptance of charismatic practice in the Roman Catholic Church. Synan seems to think that the broad acceptance of the charismatic movements is a sign of its success, whereas it seems that this should raise uncomfortable questions about the movement as a genuine work of God for those concerned with doctrinal orthodoxy.

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a foundational understanding of the Pentecostal movement in its entirety, this book fits the bill. I found it helpful for understanding the factors and forces that have shaped and continue to shape Pentecostalism. There are a few spots where it's repetitive. However, this repetition does not diminish the value delivered especially to one who has not grown up within the Pentecostal tradition. And, while this book is not intended to be a sociological evaluation of the movement, students of sociology will find the shifts in cultural acceptance amongst various denominations and the driving influences for these shifts worth the time invested.

[Justin Wheaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book that gives an overview of the Pentecostal movement. It can be dry at times and the chapters are very long. Good information though.

[Nicholas A. Gilbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synan does a great job presenting an overall objective the history of the diversity of the Holiness Pentecostals and their respective offshoots.

[Steve Irby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished "The Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition: Charismatic Movements in the Twentieth Century," by Vinson Synan.

Maybe the best book I've read this year.

This is a slice of history I've really been wanting to read more about.

He ended his intro with a sentence or two thanking all who helped him. People, learn a lesson here: some of us do read every sentence, stop making some of them so painful.

Synan opens with some Wesley history (b. 1703) so we can draw a line from entire sanctification to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It's interesting that what Wesley was seeing in Va at this time would take another 25 years to realize at Cane Ridge (1801). This was an awesome chapter spanning from Wesley's birth to the first shots at Sumpter.

After the Civil War the emphasis on entire sanctification seemed to drop off. This was due to the camp meeting atmosphere which had lessened (and maybe the southern Methodists focus of slavery). Methodists came together in 1867 to re-energize the camp meeting and bring entire sanctification back to the front.

The end of the 19th century: The joining of many different groups into the Pentecostal church of the Nazarene saw the holiness movement expand. It was around this time that some began to advocate for a third experience: "The fire" or the baptism of the Spirit. So count them: we are up to three works of the Spirit: Justification, sanctification and Spirit Baptism. But wait, there's more. The advocates of a third experience were seen by some as heretics. The "Heretics" went on to form "The Fire Baptized Holiness Church" with a strong Midwestern and Southern presence. This movement was met with resistance especially after adding another three baptisms (totaling six now) which is totally a holiness "hold my beer" move to past and current Pentecostals. Along with was adherence to Old Testament dietary laws and modest dress for men and women. It was seen as sinful for men to wear a tie (amen).

After a long chapter on the (many) movements that fell under "Church of God" Synan gets us to 1904 Welsh, and 1906 Azusa St. revivals. While tongues characterized both revivals it was Azusa via Parham and Seymour as something that should be characteristic of baptism in the Spirit and commonplace in worship thus entrenching tongues doctrinally for post Azusa Pentecostal traditions. This would have been a third gift of grace after Justification and entire sanctification. I have to admit that Azusa got wilder than I imagined. That aside it was the nexus for Pentecostalism.

East coast v west coast for the OG of Charismata:
So a Pentecostal Holiness minister in Dunn, NC read about Azusa and had to see for himself. He was taken aback by the mixing of all races on Azusa but he had just traveled 3000 miles for the baptism of the Spirit and tongues as a sign so he stayed. Taken aback again when a young black man placed hands on him uninvited to recieve the Spirit he had to once more remind himself of the miles. Three days in and he went to Seymour (a black man) and requested hands be laid on him. Successful he traveled back to NC and started some backwoods-Azusa stuff that had Pentecostalism spreading around the south and east via revivals between Danville Va to Bham Al. This began the Pentecostal Free-Will Baptist Church out of Dunn and its influence in other traditions.

There's a long history behind the Assemblies of God but here's the crux: thus far in the growth and expansion of Pentecostalism the line went directly to Wesley via the holiness movement. The AoG was the first movement who said that entire sanctification as a second work was something that should be earnestly pursued but it wasn't a show-stopper for the gift of the Spirit. More Baptistic than Methodistic.

His handling of modalism, it's split from the AoG and its growth was fair and without emotion. Especially after reading this, regardless of where it took them, they were truly searching for the most respectful--biblically--route.

And that's about half the book. This was a wonderful tour of Holiness, Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions.

#HolinessPentecostal #Pentecostal #Charismatic #VinsonSynan #Azusa #Eerdmans #Parham #Seymour

[Desiree Dunlap · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the breadth of this work, which covered hundreds of years of historical movements within the charismatic tradition and provided relevant facts/details that kept the me engaged in the various transitions and introduction of new leaders/subsets of the movement. The last 3-4 chapters were especially intriguing as they helped me understand the rise of Pentecostal influence in the 20th century and connect the dots on how the denominational landscape has become what it currently is. I thought the author did a great job of providing information without inserting his own perspective/biases which allowed me to be more trusting of his reporting of scandals, controversies and strange occurrences on the outskirts of "charismania". I would love to find a follow up that covers the Pentecostal/charismatic movement from 1990-mid 2000s, and something that talks about the possible effect of the rise of charismatic music on the perspectives of those sympathetic and averse to Pentecostal beliefs.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit dated, but interesting

This book came out in 1997, and a lot has happened in the Pentecostal movement since then. If you're looking for something current about the Pentecostal movement, look elsewhere. If you want to inquire how the Pentecostal movement became a world wide phenomenal, this book has a lot of information. Apparently the author has something to do with the Pentecostal movement; he mentions himself about three quarters into the book. A bit dry in parts, but overall an interesting read.

[Mark-Peter Amoureus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book which helps you well in knowledge of the background of this new tradition. The information was given from a good neutral point of view. The book was a bit dry and boring to read at times though.

[Paul Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic work.

Synan is a well respected historian and this work shows why. It is a great introduction to the holiness, Pentecostal and charismatic tradition and is still valuable years after its release.

[A.J. Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good survey of the subject.

[Ted Rohe · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off a little gripe. The spine on this book I bought used started to ware and I started loosing the first 9 pages. FRUSTRATING!

As far as the book itself. It was a very well researched and written book. Synan knows his materal. I think my only problems where the fact that he didn't go into specifically what issues Evangelicals had with some aspects of Pentecostalism. Second, he didn't go into detail about some of the extreme aspects of the movement. He touches on it a little, but you can see he is trying to be mostly favorable to a movement he is attached to. I'm Charismatic to Third Wave, but I have some reservations about the movement personally. However, this book did help me see the movement in a better context and a better light.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting and helpful overview on the growth and expansion of the Holiness-Pentecostal Tradition from the time of Wesley up to the current day with an expansive section on the Charismatic movement.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched and thorough book on the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. The historical accounts are truly captivating.

[Seth Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, readable, scholarly history book. Go buy now.

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. Synan is top shelf.