EUR  â¬181.20EUR  â¬151.00 excl. VAT
The 'Spiritual Death' of Jesus
A Pentecostal Investigation
Series: - Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, Volume: 1
Author:
Winner of the Award of Excellence of the Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship 2010.
The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus âdied spirituallyâ (JDS) is important because of the influence of these men, not least on Pentecostalism. JDS originated with Kenyon, and has been taught in the Word-faith movement by Hagin and Copeland, despite much criticism. It incorporates three elements: in this death, Jesus was separated from God; partook of a satanic nature; and was Satanâs prey.
This theological appraisal takes research far further than previous works, both in method and in scope. It concludes that adoption of JDS by Pentecostalism would be damaging in several respects, and thus draw the latter away from its moorings in traditional Christianity. Pentecostals and others are advised to reject the bulk of this teaching.
The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus âdied spirituallyâ (JDS) is important because of the influence of these men, not least on Pentecostalism. JDS originated with Kenyon, and has been taught in the Word-faith movement by Hagin and Copeland, despite much criticism. It incorporates three elements: in this death, Jesus was separated from God; partook of a satanic nature; and was Satanâs prey.
This theological appraisal takes research far further than previous works, both in method and in scope. It concludes that adoption of JDS by Pentecostalism would be damaging in several respects, and thus draw the latter away from its moorings in traditional Christianity. Pentecostals and others are advised to reject the bulk of this teaching.
William P. Atkinson, PhD (Edinburgh, 2007), was Principal of Regents Theological College near Manchester, England for some years. Presently, he leads a church in South-East England, and teaches part time at Wisdom Christian College, London.
Winner of the Award of Excellence of the Foundation for Pentecostal scholarship 2010.
"Atkinson has advanced the discussion to a wholly new level. This work - the first book-length academic study of JDS - draws on an extensive popular literature, articles at websites, and transcriptions of sermons, applying a keen theological intelligence to this heterogeneous material. This book is a stunning achievement - one of the weightiest works yet written on any aspect of the Word-Faith movement. Atkinson's argumentation is exceptioanlly clear, cogent, and charitable. He pays Word-Faith teachers the ultimate compliment of evaluating their ideas with painstaking care and a determined effort to eschew premature judgments." â Michael McClymond, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, St Louis University, in: Pneuma 32/1 (2010)
"In this research Atkinson provides us with a thorough analysis of the JDS doctrine as espoused by the Word-faith movement. The text is well structured and discusses the relevant biblical texts and the place JDS has in Christian theology. It contributes to the scholarly debate about the inherent doctrinal dangers in the Word-faith movement. As Atkinson rightfully observes, JDS teaching creates many difficulties and questions. It undermines the traditional understanding of the Trinity, incarnation and atonement." â C. van der Laan, VU University Amsterdam, in: Journal of Reformed Theology 4 (2010), 241-265
"Atkinson has advanced the discussion to a wholly new level. This work - the first book-length academic study of JDS - draws on an extensive popular literature, articles at websites, and transcriptions of sermons, applying a keen theological intelligence to this heterogeneous material. This book is a stunning achievement - one of the weightiest works yet written on any aspect of the Word-Faith movement. Atkinson's argumentation is exceptioanlly clear, cogent, and charitable. He pays Word-Faith teachers the ultimate compliment of evaluating their ideas with painstaking care and a determined effort to eschew premature judgments." â Michael McClymond, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, St Louis University, in: Pneuma 32/1 (2010)
"In this research Atkinson provides us with a thorough analysis of the JDS doctrine as espoused by the Word-faith movement. The text is well structured and discusses the relevant biblical texts and the place JDS has in Christian theology. It contributes to the scholarly debate about the inherent doctrinal dangers in the Word-faith movement. As Atkinson rightfully observes, JDS teaching creates many difficulties and questions. It undermines the traditional understanding of the Trinity, incarnation and atonement." â C. van der Laan, VU University Amsterdam, in: Journal of Reformed Theology 4 (2010), 241-265
Preface ... vii
Acknowledgements ... viii
List of abbreviations ... ix
Introduction ... 1
Chapter 1: The JDS debate and debaters ... 5
1.1 Introduction ... 5
1.2 The Word-faith movement ... 7
1.3 Three foremost JDS teachers ... 14
1.4 JDS teaching in theological context ... 25
1.5 Categories of participant in the JDS debate ... 39
1.6 Growing opposition ... 43
1.7 Dissenting voices ... 52
1.8.Mediating positions ... 56
1.9. Chapter conclusions ... 59
Chapter 2: Scope, criteria and methods ... 63
2.1 Introduction ... 63
2.2 Scope and limits ... 63
2.3 Criteria ... 65
2.4 Conformity with the biblical witness ...67
2.5 Kenyonâs contemporary influences ... 77
2.6 Reference to Christian theology ... 82
2.7 Chapter conclusions ... 95
Chapter 3: Jesusâ âspiritual deathâ and its necessity ... 99
3.1 Introduction ... 99
3.2 Biblical references to âspiritual deathâ ... 100
3.3 Historical references to âspiritual deathâ ... 111
3.4 JDS teachingâs terminology in modern Christian theology ... 125
3.5 The necessity of Christâs âspiritual deathâ ... 127
3.6 Chapter conclusions ... 141
Chapter 4: Jesusâ âspiritual deathâ as separation from God ... 147
4.1. Introduction ... 147
4.2. The JDS articulation of Jesusâ separation from God ... 147
4.3. Criticisms of the JDS position ... 157
4.4. The possibility of a separation ... 160
4.5. The timing of a possible separation ... 172
4.6. The nature of a possible separation ... 175
4.7. Chapter conclusions ... 183
Chapter 5: Jesusâ âspiritual deathâ as partaking of a sinful, satanic nature ... 187
5.1 Introduction ... 187
5.2 Satan ... 188
5.3 Partaking of a sinful, satanic nature ... 190
5.4 The responses of the critics ... 195
5.5 Kenyonâs, Haginâs and Copelandâs sources ... 199
5.6 History of the tradition ... 208
5.7 Chapter conclusions ... 213
Chapter 6: Jesusâ âspiritual deathâ as becoming Satanâs prey ... 217
6.1 Introduction ... 217
6.2 The views of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland ... 218
6.3 Responses of the critics ... 226
6.4 JDS sources ... 231
6.5 Alternative proposals ... 240
6.6 Chapter conclusions ... 248
Chapter 7: Conclusions ... 251
7.1 Introduction ... 251
7.2 Summaries ... 252
7.3 Further responses to the critics ... 256
7.4 Sundry observations ... 258
7.5 Overall appraisal of JDS teaching ... 261
Bibliography ... 263
Index of references ... 281
Index of authors ... 285
Index of subjects ... 291
Scholars, students, and ministers interested in Pentecostalism, charismatic studies, and the Word-Faith movement, or in the history of reflection upon the events of Good Friday and Holy Saturday.