2008 Awards of Excellence in Pentecostal Scholarship

The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship (TFFPS) has conferred its “Award of Excellence” for the best article of 2008. TFFPS co-founder and president, Robert W. Graves, announced the award during the 2008 Conference of the Society for Pentecostal Studies convening at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Professor Kenneth J. Archer, of the Church of God Theological Seminary, received the award for his article “A Pentecostal Way of Doing Theology: Method and Manner” (International Journal of Systematic Theology, July 2007). The article emphasizes the necessity of doing Pentecostal theology by means of an integrative methodology and in a narrative manner that flows out of Pentecostal identity. Archer argues that “Pentecostal theology must move beyond the impasse created by subsuming its identity under the rubric of ‘Evangelical’ in order for it to articulate a vibrant, fully orbed, mature Pentecostal theology.”

Graves also announced that the Foundation conferred a $1,000 research grant to Professor Archer to pursue his project “Worshipful Witness: A Pentecostal Theology of the Five-Fold Gospel,” a book-length elaboration of the award-winning article. “Worshipful Witness,” according to Archer, will provide a formative Pentecostal theology for the training of ministers, the (re)shaping of Pentecostal communal identity, and the critical engaging of contemporary Pentecostal theology. The eventual monograph will enter into serious dialogue with current and diverse academic works as well as engage academic Pentecostal publications.

2009 Nominees for the Award of Excellence

To date, three works have been nominated for the 2009 Award of Excellence: Paul Elbert’s Pastoral Letter to Theo: An Introduction to Interpretation and Women’s Ministries (Wipf and Stock Publishers); Gordon D. Fee’s Galatians: A Pentecostal Commentary (Deo Publishing); and Robby Waddell’s The Spirit of the Book of Revelation (Deo Publishing).

Pastoral Letter to Theo addresses some of the fundamental concerns of recent research into biblical interpretation by Adele Berlin and Kenneth Archer. It also takes into account the communicative literary and rhetorical techniques that were prominent in the Greco-Roman world when the New Testament documents were composed. Elbert suggests that attention to levels of context, plot, repetition, and characterization or personification comprise a proper method for understanding a New Testament writer's original meaning and intent.

Generally, the potentially groundbreaking thesis in much of Elbert's work is for a literary link between the "Spirit" language in Paul's letters and the later narrative of Luke-Acts. Specifically, A Pastoral Letter to Theo reflects heartfelt, pastoral concerns based on detailed contextual study of early Christianity and Christian experience. The book contextually examines in detail several passages pertaining to the ministry of women in missionary-minded early Christianity and concludes that this ministry was thought to be vital for the evangelistic enterprise.

Gordon Fee needs no introduction either within or outside the Pentecostal tradition. With his customary exemplary scholarship, at once erudite and accessible, in Galatians he meets the demands of “Pentecostal Commentary” following the format of this series. An introduction situating Paul’s key letter in time and space is followed by a detailed discussion of each section of the letter, verse-by-verse commentary, and a theological discussion with challenging questions for individual or group study. Not only does this work function as a reference work - to see what authoritative comment “Fee” has to make on a particular text in Galatians - but it is a thoroughly readable book which can simply be read straight through. It provides an illuminating account of Paul’s message to the Galatian community, opening up the text to the modern reader.

The Spirit of the Book of Revelation investigates the role of the Spirit in Revelation, which the author considers is best defined as the Spirit of Prophecy. A survey of scholarship on the pneumatology of the Apocalypse is followed by a study of intertextual connections. Waddell’s own religious context within Pentecostalism then informs a possible hermeneutic that is faithful to the ethos of the movement. Biblical and literary studies are situated within the context of a Pentecostal community as attention is paid to the prophecy concerning the temple and the witnesses in Rev 11. This key passage is shown to form the theological as well as the literary center of the Spirit’s role in Revelation. (deopublishing.com/waddell.htm)

Kudos to Dr. David Orton and Deo Publishing

The Pentecostal movement owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. David E. Orton, director and owner of Deo Publishing, for Deo’s commitment to publish quality Pentecostal scholarship. The Foundation’s 2007 Award of Excellence was awarded to Deo’s Pentecostal Healing: Models in Theology and Practice (deopublishing.com/alexander.htm) by Kimberly Ervin Alexander. As seen above, two of Deo’s titles have been nominated for the 2009 Award of Excellence. To see other Deo titles, go to deopublishing.com. The Foundation encourages all of those interested in Pentecostal scholarship to support Deo in its efforts to serve the Pentecostal movement by providing this invaluable venue of scholarship. (Above right, Dr. Orton at Duke University, 2008 Society for Pentecostal Studies conference)

2007 Awards of Excellence Conferred

The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship (TFFPS) has conferred its 2007 Awards of Excellence for Pentecostal scholarship. TFFPS president, Robert W. Graves, announced the awards during the Conference of the Society for Pentecostal Studies at Lee University. Two book awards and one article award were given. This year’s book award voting resulted in a tie between Pentecostal Healing: Models in Theology and Practice by Kimberly Ervin Alexander, an Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at the Church of God Theological Seminary, and Spirit and Kingdom in the Writings of Luke and Paul: An Attempt to Reconcile These Concepts, by Youngmo Cho, an Assemblies of God missionary and assistant professor of New Testament studies at Asia LIFE University (Seoul, Korea).  <more>

2006 Awards of Excellence Conferred

TFFPS conferred Awards of Excellence to four Pentecostal scholars . . . Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?: A

Call to Use God’s Gift of the Intellect wins in book category. <more>

TFFPS’s First Grant Conferred

Lukan scholar presenting paper at SPS conference is the recipient of the Foundation’s first grant. <more>

 

 

WALKING AZUSA STREET

Scott Johnson, Secretary of TFFPS, filed this report about the historic centennial celebration of the Pentecostal revival that started on Azusa Street  <more>

Haya-Prats Translation Underway

TFFPS has inked contracts with Gonzalo Haya-Prats, ThD, and Scott A. Ellington, PhD, for the translation of Haya Prats’ classic work on the Holy Spirit in Acts. <more>

 

Top Pentecostal Books

The president of TFFPS shares his picks for the top ten books substantiating the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit. <more>