The Holy Spirit as Person and Power: Charismatic Renewal and Its Implications for Theology

by Rob Yule; Murray Talbot

Publisher:

Wipf and Stock

, 2020

Overview

In just over one hundred years, the Pentecostal-charismatic movement has transformed world Christianity. Noted for their rediscovery of spiritual gifts and commitment to world evangelization, 700 million Pentecostals and charismatics now account for more than 27 percent of the global Christian movement. The Pentecostal-charismatic movement has been more noted for its activism than for theological reflection. But this may be changing. The Holy Spirit as Person and Power challenges traditional theology to take account of what has been disclosed in the dynamism and variety of charismatic experience. The author is a theologically trained practitioner, impacted in midlife by a transforming experience of the Holy Spirit. He has been a hands-on leader in the renewal movement. Now, in his later years, he reflects on the meaning of the grace imparted to the church by the renewing activity of God’s Spirit. This is not the work of an enthusiast claiming a new revelation. Rather, the author draws attention to many nuances in the Bible’s description of the Spirit that have been overlooked in traditional pneumatology. By relating these insights to Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and evangelical theology, he has produced a book with ecumenical implications for all branches of world Christianity.

Praise for The Holy Spirit as Person and Power

“Rob Yule has produced a fascinating book on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Beginning with his own experience of encountering the power of the Holy Spirit he looks at the amazing movement of the Holy Spirit that began early in the twentieth century and now encompasses nearly 700 million Christians all over the world. He then looks at what we can learn biblically about the Holy Spirit, and finally reflects on how all this can relate to a divided church. This is a very thoughtful reflection on what is the most remarkable Christian movement of our time.”

—Murray Robertson, Former Senior Pastor, South-West Baptist Church, Christchurch, New Zealand



“Can you separate the empowering work of the Holy Spirit from the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing about new birth? Rob Yule has produced a book which not only addresses questions like this but reaches back in time to the early church fathers and across the wide spectrum of Christian theology from Pentecostalism to Eastern Orthodoxy, to increase our understanding of this important aspect of Christian living. Rob brings a depth of understanding and enlightenment seldom found in works on this topic. Most importantly, he does so in a readable and understandable way.”

—Murray Talbot, Former Senior Minister, Hope Presbyterian Church, Christchurch, New Zealand

Product Details

• Title : The Holy Spirit as Person and Power: Charismatic Renewal and Its Implications for Theology
• Authors:
  • Yule, Rob
  • Talbot, Murray
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock
• Publication Date: 2020
• ISBN: 9781725251601

About the Authors

Rob Yule is a retired New Zealand Presbyterian minister and a former moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. He has been a university chaplain, a leader in charismatic renewal in three prominent New Zealand churches, a national advisor for Presbyterian Renewal Ministries (NZ), and a lecturer in Bible schools in New Zealand and the Czech Republic. He is currently writing a history of the charismatic renewal movement in New Zealand.