|
 In the early
‘70s I began researching theological literature as it related to two
distinctive Pentecostal doctrines: (1) the baptism in the Holy
Spirit, and (2) the continuity of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As
you can imagine, I came across some very good books as well as some
stinkers, in both Pentecostal and non-Pentecostal categories. For
your benefit, I have compiled my Top 10 list of the best books
substantiating the Pentecostal position on these two issues. In
1987, I published a similar list in my book Praying in the Spirit
(Chosen Books). Only three books that were in that list made it to
this list, reflecting the tremendous strides that have been made in
Pentecostal scholarship in the last twenty years. Here are my
favorites:
1.
Empowered for Witness: The Spirit in Luke-Acts (Sheffield, 1991) by
Robert P. Menzies
(And its popularized version with Wm. Menzies,
Spirit and
Power, Zondervan, 2000)
1. (tie) On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic
on Postbiblical Miracles
(Sheffield, 1993) by Jon Ruthven (the best on the
continuity of the gifts)
3. The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke (Hendrickson, 1984) by
Roger Stronstad
4. Spirit-Baptism: A Biblical Investigation (Hendrickson, rev.
1987) by Howard M. Ervin
5. Mighty in Word and Deed (Hendrickson, 1991) by James B. Shelton
6. The Prophethood of All Believers: A Study in Luke’s Charismatic
Theology
(Sheffield, 1999) by Roger Stronstad
7. Conversion-Initiation and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
(Hendrickson, 1987) by Howard M. Ervin
8. Spirit, Scripture and Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective
(APTS
Press, 1995) by Roger Stronstad
9. Gift and Giver: The Holy Spirit for Today (Baker Academic, 2001)
by Craig S. Keener
10. Surprised by the Power of the Spirit (Zondervan, 1993) by Jack
Deere
Other
worthwhile reads
Some of you
would, no doubt, include one or more of Rodman Williams’s works on
this list (such as The Gift of the Holy Spirit Today)—I wouldn’t
argue with that. Other authors also come to mind: Harold D. Hunter (Spirit-Baptism: A Pentecostal
Alternative), Charles E. Hummel (Fire
in the Fireplace), Anthony D. Palma (The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal
Perspective), Jim McNair (Experiencing the Holy Spirit), and even
James Dunn (Jesus and the Spirit). Addressing prophecy,
specifically, is Wayne Grudem’s The Gift of Prophecy in the New
Testament and Today. Charismatics might prefer Thomas A. Smail’s
Reflected Glory: The Spirit in Christ and Christians and Gerald
Hovenden’s Speaking in Tongues: The New Testament Evidence in
Context. On a practical level, it would be hard to beat Dennis and
Rita Bennett’s The Holy Spirit and You.
Shorter
works with punch
If I were
listing shorter works, I would include Stronstad's Baptized and
Filled with the Holy Spirit (2004), Anthony Palma's Baptism
in the Holy Spirit (1999), Doug Oss’s contribution to
Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? Four Views (Zondervan, 1996), and
Paul Elbert’s “Face to Face: Then or Now? An Exegesis of 1
Corinthians 13:8-13,” (paper read at the 1977 SPS conference). Noteworthy older, shorter
works include Wm. G. MacDonald’s Glossolalia in the New Testament (GPH,
1964) and Michael Harper’s Power for the Body of Christ (Logos,
1964).
More to
come
The Top 10 List
is, of course, in flux. I see a number of books on my bookshelf that
I intend to read; any one of them may find its way on the list. They
are: Tongues of the Spirit by Cyril Williams, Quenching the Spirit
by Wm. DeArteaga, Christian Initiation and
Baptism in the Holy Spirit by McDonnell and Montague, The Kingdom
and the Power by Greig and Springer, Gordon Fee’s God’s Empowering
Presence, et al.
I hope this list
has whetted your appetite to read one or more of these works; if it
has and if you purchase books online, be sure to access
Amazon.com through the
gateway of our
Resource Page. That
way, the Foundation will receive a commission from all your
purchases (whether or not they are the books listed on our page!).
I’d also like to hear about books that you like that aren’t on my
list. Please email me at
rgraves@tffps.org. |
