The Shape of Pneumatology: Studies in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

by John McIntyre

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 2004

Overview

McIntyre’s work addresses one of the most difficult aspects of the doctrine—the heterogeneity of the biblical and traditional material from which it is derived—and points to the areas where the church must act to recover the sense of the immediacy of the Holy Spirit.

The book explores the nature, origins and development of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, finding its many recurring expressions deriving on the one hand from Scripture, and on the other from tradition in the form of the doctrine of the Trinity. The biblical models are particularly apparent in the vigorous modern Pentecostalist and charismatic churches while the Greek and Latin Fathers provided a dominant series of Trinitarian models which recur in varying forms across the history of the doctrine of the Spirit, notably in Calvin and Barth.

John McIntyre considers whether the modern church has “betrayed” the insights, vision and experience of the New Testament church. He concludes by pointing to the areas in which the church must act if it is to recover the sense of the immediacy of the Spirit both in its corporate life and in the lives of individuals.

Contents

Top Highlights

“On the one hand, there have come into existence across the centuries literally hundreds of different denominations” (Page 3)

“The purpose of such a review will be to determine whether, on the one hand, these differences constitute development of the true nature and insights of the New Testament and early Church; or whether, on the other hand, the differences amount to ‘betrayal’ by the modern Church of the New Testament understanding of the very being of God and how he acts in the hearts of believers, in the life of the Church and in history and the world.” (Pages 1–2)

“But what the study of the doctrine of the Spirit yields is that the application of the concept of emperichoresis to the Spirit, so far from being a logical extension from another doctrine, is central to the understanding of the being and work of the Spirit in the economy of creation, salvation and redemption.” (Page 240)

“rediscovery of the power, the blessing, the enlightening and the comfort of the Spirit.” (Page vii)

“it has always seemed to me inappropriate that uniformity should be implicitly assumed” (Page 4)

Product Details

• Title: The Shape of Pneumatology: Studies in the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
• Author: John McIntyre
• Publisher: T & T Clark
• Publication Date: 2004
• Pages: 304

About John McIntyre

John McIntyre is Emeritus Professor of Divinity, University of Edinburgh.