God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul

by Gordon D. Fee

Fee offers a fresh and in-depth exegesis of every Spirit text in the Pauline corpus. Part Two synthesizes the analysis presented in Part One into a coherent invitation to consider the Holy Spirit's crucial role in Pauline theology. "Seldom does one find such a satisfying treatment of a theological topic so solidly based on serious and thorough exegetical analysis. In his study of the New Testament Fee recognizes and takes seriously the fact that Paul experienced the reality of the Spirit's empowering presence in his life and in the life of the church. Comprehensive in its scope, this scholarly volume speaks to pastors, students, and other church leaders as well as to the academic community. It is a good book that will do good."
-Bruce M. Metzger, Professor of New Testament, Emeritus, Princeton Theological Seminary "Fee's book is the most comprehensive treatment available of Paul's understanding of the Holy Spirit, a topic that has rarely received sufficient attention in studies of Pauline theology. Fee's method is he first analyzes Paul's statements about the Spirit, in each individual letter, then moves to a synthesis of Paul's general pneumatology. The result is a book that is deeply exegetical, doing justice both to the particularity of Paul's writings and to the fundamental unity of his vision for the Spirit's role in the life of the Christian community. Most importantly, Fee emphasizes insistently that the Holy Spirit must be experienced as a living presence within the church. That message is both faithful to Paul and urgent for the community of faith in our time."
-Richard B. Hays, Associate Professor of New Testament, The Divinity School, Duke University "With the energy and care that is a trademark of his work, Gordon Fee here fills a significant gap in Pauline Studies. Both those who find talk about the Holy Spirit congenial and those who would happily marginalize it will be instructed by this book. Fee makes a genuine contribution as he examines Paul's letters in conversation with both the exegetical tradition of the academy and the pressing needs of the church."
-Beverly R. Gaventa, Associate Professor of New Testament, Princeton Theological Seminary

Genres: Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Spirituality, Reference, Christian Living

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Gordon Fee was Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Regent College, where he taught for sixteen years. His teaching experience also included serving schools in Washington, California, Kentucky, as well as Wheaton College in Illinois (five years) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts (twelve years).

Gordon Fee was a noted New Testament scholar, having published several books and articles in his field of specialization, New Testament textual criticism. He also published a textbook on New Testament interpretation, co-authored two books for lay people on biblical interpretation, as well as scholarly-popular commentaries on 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus and on Galatians, and major commentaries on 1 Corinthians and Philippians. He is also the author of a major work on the Holy Spirit and the Person of Christ in the letters of Paul.

Gordon Fee served as the general editor of the New International Commentary series, as well as on the NIV revision committee that produced the TNIV. Besides his ability as a biblical scholar, he was a noted teacher and conference speaker. He has given the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar lectures on fifteen college campuses as well as the annual NT lectures at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, North Park Seminary, the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, the Canadian Theological Seminary, Duke Divinity School, Golden Gate Baptist, Anderson School of Theology, Asbury Seminary, and Chrichton College. An ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, Gordon Fee was well known for his manifest concern for the renewal of the church.

Gordon Fee was married and had four married children.

Reviews

[James Korsmo]

I have no intention of doing this important work justice in this short review, so instead, let me give a few words of appreciation. This nearly encyclopedic book encapsulates what must have been years of research and months of careful exegesis. The first three-fourths of the book consists of a passage-by-passage look at every mention and allusion to the Holy Spirit in Paul's letters. Each passage is exegeted with care, always with an eye to its context and its place in the larger argument of the letter. I had intended to only skim these chapters of exegesis, dipping in at what seemed to be important points, but kept finding myself absorbed in Fee's writing, and though I didn't read it in its entirety, I have no doubt it would repay careful study. The book then closes with a section of synthesis in which Fee brings together the fruits of his research.

The conclusions, like the exegesis they follow, are too extensive to summarize here, other than to say that Fee makes a very convincing case for the importance of the Holy Spirit to Paul's thinking, as well as to Paul's very life. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who is interested in Paul's life and letters or in the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Fee also has, by nature of his own Pentecostal background, a keen eye to how this doctrine has been understood or misunderstood in contemporary formulations and church practices, and this book provides a well-grounded corrective to many distortions. If you're even considering this book, don't think twice. It is not to be missed.

[Roland Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fee draws on his numerous commentaries on Paul’s letters (including his acclaimed work on 1 Corinthians) and uses his specialist expertise to address major debates about things like baptism in the Holy Spirit, the spirit/flesh dichotomy in Paul, and what it means to have spiritual gifts. See my full review here: http://wordsbecamebooks.com/2014/06/0...

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the book of all books on the Holy Spirit in the writings of Paul and maybe just the book of all books on the Holy Spirit. Dense. Really dense. But super helpful.

[Russell Matherly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterpiece. I made it my goal to read little chunks of this book every month so that I could slowly digest it’s content. I’m so glad I approached it this way. There are so many brilliant moments over the last year to recount that would make this review WAY too long. Among them are the dynamite reminder in the opening pages that for Paul, “spiritual” doesn’t mean ethereal or woo woo, but empowered by the spirit. I remember reading that in the café of my church with my jaw nearly on the floor. I remember sitting at my kitchen counter reading his magisterial exegesis of 1 Corinthians, my heart ablaze at the possibilities of corporate worship with a Trinitarian focus. I remember sitting at a coffee shop when Gordon Fee busted my fragile perspectives on Galatians 5 and Romans 7 with a baseball bat, reminding me that the Holy Spirit actually does make His people holy.
I will never forget this book, and plan to reference and recommend it regularly.

[Jess Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pas tout à fait fini mais je pense déjà pouvoir me faire un avis.

Une lecture vraiment intéressante, parfois assez technique. Fee explore chacun des textes parlant de ma manière directe ou indirecte du Saint-Esprit dans les lettres de Pau.
C'est le point fort mais aussi la faiblesse de ce livre car avouons-le près de 800 pages d'exgésè sur un seul sujet ça peut être parfois un peu lourd et répétitif. J'ai du faire une pause avant de continuer.
Pas un livre que l'on lit calé dans son lit pour se détendre après une dure journée ^^.

Mais une lecture tout de même enrichissante, un indispensable pour tout ceux qui veulent étudier la pneumatologie ou comme compagnon de commentaires plus classiques.

[Wayne Kinde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book on the work of the Holy Spirit. While I have put it into the "theology" category, it's not that kind of a book. It's chewy, yes, but Gordon Fee walks through the Pauline literature and carefully summarizes the Spirit's work and role. A must read.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helpful and thorough book.

[Daniel Nelms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t read every page of the mammoth book, but read hundreds of pages for my current course. Fantastic book for reference for his exegetical work on NT HS passages

[Matt Maples · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very thorough dive into Paul’s understanding of the Holy Spirit. It’s a pretty deep dive and a much more technical book than I was expecting, but it’s been a very rich experience.

[Dan]

Fee brings his careful analysis and fine exegesis to the entire corpus of Paul's writings on the Holy Spirit. A very well written book.

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great exegetical writing on the various passages in the Pauline epistles that point to or describe the Holy Spirit and spiritual life.

[Geoff Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all of it, but I have read large chunks. Great book by a great exegete, who is always stimulating even when I disagree with him.

[Abbygeil]

haeheh