Product Details
The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal Perspective

The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal Perspective
By Anthony D. Palma, Stanley M. Horton

Price:

This item is not available for purchase from this store.
Click here to go to Amazon to see other purchasing options.


11 new or used available from $120.95

Average customer review:
Highly recommended by Jerome H. Weymouth, & Robert Jimenez

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #853296 in Books
  • Published on: 2001-08
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 303 pages

Customer Reviews

Theological Book on Pentecostal Position5
Dr. Anthony Palma represents the heart of the new emerging breed of theologians in the classical Pentecostal position. Now retired, Dr. Palma was a distinguished professor at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO (AGTS).

This book offers a much deeper and more theological position of the Assemblies of God on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Most of this book was originally published in a small book form simply entitled THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. Several new chapters were added on the person of the Spirit and hence this book.

This is a technical book and a person not fimiliar with theology or theological terms would not enjoy this book. Dr. Palma also is a Greek scholar and will inject word studies in his chapters that so need them.

One of the main reasons to buy this book is Dr. Palma's dealing with the initial, physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (which he defines as speaking in tongues). Dr. Palma seeks to offer another approach to initial evidence while remaining classical Pentecostal in his approach. He also challanges the Pentecostal interpretation of John 20:22 as the new birth of the eleven disciples of Christ.

You will enjoy this book if you are seeking a deeper theological position on the Pentecostal view of the person and work of the Spirit.

An Excellent Biblical Study by a Pentecostal Scholar5
Anthony Palma's book is one of several texts on the Holy Spirit from a Pentecostal perspective that I use when teaching on the topic. Others include Stanley Horton's What the Bible Says About the Holy Spirit (Rev. Ed., 2005), L. Thomas Holdcroft's The Holy Spirit: A Pentecostal Interpretation (Rev. Ed., 1999), and books by reputable authors such as Roger Stronstad, James Shelton, and Robert Menzies, among others. Potential readers should keep in mind that Palma's book is through Logion Press, the academic arm of the Assemblies of God's Gospel Publishing House (GPH). It is in a systematic, textbook format, unlike Horton's book mentioned above which is published by GPH, but not through Logion Press.

Palma's text is divided into three general parts with 4 - 6 chapters each as follows: PART 1: GENERAL PNEUMATOLOGY - Chapter 1: The Spirit and the Godhead, Chapter 2: The Spirit in the Old Testament Period, Chapter 3: The Spirit and the Messiah, Chapter 4: The Spirit and the Church, Chapter 5: The Spirit and the Believer, Chapter 6: The Spirit and the Word; PART 2: BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT - Chapter 7: Introductory Matters, Chapter 8: Subsequence and Separability, Chapter 9: Initial Physical Evidence, Chapter 10: Purposes and Results of Spirit Baptism; PART 3: SPIRITUAL GIFTS - Chapter 11: General Considerations, Chapter 12: Individual Gifts - Part 1, Chapter 13: Individual Gifts - Part 2, and Chapter 14: Spiritual Gifts and Worship. The book also contains a Study Questions section at the back covering every chapter, a Selected Bibliography, as well as a Scripture Index and Subject Index.

As one can see from the chapter headings above, the book is comprehensive in scope, covering every scriptural topic related to the Holy Spirit. Although general pneumatology is covered which can also be found in good, conservative books by non-Pentecostal and non-Charismatic Christian theologians, the text does scripturally defend the Classical Pentecostal position, addressing not only the issue of Cessationism versus Continuationism (whether the "extraordinary" gifts of the Spirit have ceased or continue today), but also the important issues of whether baptism in the Holy Spirit is distinct from and subsequent to Christian conversion and whether speaking in other tongues is the "initial, physical evidence" of Spirit baptism. Whatever one's position is on these topics, Palma will certainly give one something to think about. As I mentioned before, I use Palma's book in conjunction with other Pentecostal texts and it is interesting that on certain issues (such as when Christ's disciples were spiritually regenerated) there are differences of opinion, even among Pentecostals. For example, Horton's book above supports the view that the eleven disciples (minus Judas Iscariot) were born again in John 20 which is prior to Pentecost, but after the new covenant was established at Christ's crucifixion. Palma challenges this interpretation. I reference both authors when discussing the issue. I highly recommend Palma's text which requires careful study and meditation. It will take you deeper into the Bible's teaching on the Holy Spirit than many other less academic books on the topic.

A scholar's look at the Holy Spirit5
Dr. Palma deals with the critical questions surrounding the Pentecostal distinctives in regards to the Holy Spirit. He is diligent to fairly present opposing views while showing his own reasons for holding to the classic Pentecostal view. This is a look at the doctrine of the Holy Spirit by a scholar who is not afraid of where the truth may lead him.