Inspired: The Holy Spirit and the Mind of Faith

by Jack Levison

Overview

Eugene Peterson calls Jack Levison ‘the clearest writer on the Holy Spirit that I have known.’ In this book Levison speaks a fresh prophetic word to the church, championing a unique blend of serious Bible study and Christian spirituality.

With rich insight, he shows Christians of any church or denomination how they can take the Spirit into the grit of everyday life. Levison argues for an indispensable synergy between spontaneity and study, ecstasy and restraint, inspiration and interpretation.

Readable and relevant, winsome and wise, Levison’s Inspired sets a bold agenda for today’s church that will replace quick-fix spiritualities with a vibrant, durable experience of the Holy Spirit.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781467439053
Publisher:	Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company
Publication date:	12/13/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	702 KB

About the Author

Fresh Air: The Holy Spirit for an Inspired Life an

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction 1

The Spirit, Virtue, and Learning 2

A Suggested Agenda 6

A Discernible Trajectory 8

Key Definitions 9

1 The Spirit and the Cultivation of Virtue 15

The Benign Betrayal of Translations 17

Spirit-Breath in Israelite Literature 20

A Steady Spirit 20

Spirit-Breath as Siege Works 23

Spirit in the Courts of Pharaoh 25

Spirit in the Wilderness 27

Spirit in the Corridors of Power 32

Spirit-Breath of God in the World of Israel: Summary 36

Spirit within in the World of Early Judaism 37

A Holy Spirit within as the Heart of Virtue 38

Spirit and the Pursuit of Virtue 40

Spirit-Breath in Early Judaism: Summary 47

Spirit-Breath within in Early Christianity 48

The Lifelong Spirit within as the Locus of Virtue and Learning 50

The New Creation, Learning, and Virtue 57

The Significance of the Spirit-Breath 65

How Christians Acknowledge the Spirit in Others 65

How Christians Pray 67

How Christians Learn 68

How Christians Cultivate the Spirit 69

2 Putting Ecstasy in Its Place 71

The Rise and Demise of Ecstasy 73

A Sliver of Ecstasy in Israelite Literature 73

Ecstasy in the World of the New Testament 78

Ecstasy in the New Testament 83

Speaking in Tongues 88

Paul's Letter to the Corinthians 88

Pentecost and Beyond in the Book of Acts 91

The Holy Spirit and the Power of Reflection 97

Paul, Ananias, and a Mission Ahead 98

Peter, Cornelius, and the Outpouring Ahead 101

The Church in Antioch and the Frontier of Mission 106

Spirit, Conflict Resolution, and Collective Virtue: The Jerusalem Council 112

Summary 116

The Significance of Putting Ecstasy in Its Place 117

How Borders Are Crossed 118

How Christians Prepare for the Work of the Holy Spirit 119

How Believers Respond to the Work of the Holy Spirit 120

How Churches Can Come to Inspired Compromises 123

3 The Spirit and the Interpretation of Scripture 125

Inspired Interpretation in Israelite Literature 128

Ezra 129

Amasai 130

Jahaziel 132

Summary 134

The Inspired Interpretation of Scripture in Judaism 135

Ben Sira and the Inspired Scribe 135

The Qumran Hymns 138

Philo Judaeus 139

Josephus 143

Summary 144

The Inspired Interpretation of Scripture in the New Testament 145

Simeon's Song 145

The Promised Paraclete 148

The Book of Acts 151

The Letter to the Hebrews 154

The Letters of Paul 162

The Significance of the Inspired Interpretation of Scripture 178

How to Assess the Value of the Jewish Scriptures 178

How to Appreciate the Role of the Community for Inspired Interpretation 180

How Preparation Paves the Way for Inspiration 182

Conclusion: An Agenda for the Future of Pneumatology 185

1 A Pneumatology of Creation 186

Spirit versus spirit 188

Spiritus Sanctificans and Spiritus Vivificans 192

Spirit and Virtue 194

Spirit Outside Sacred Walls 198

2 The Significance of a Starting-Point 201

The Outpouring of the Spirit 204

Anointed Leadership 205

Liberation 207

An Array of Starting-Points 208

3 The Bible and the World That Shaped It 209

Parallels and Parallelomania 212

Filling in the Gaps 214

Matching Bookends, Different as Night and Day 215

The Vitality of Judaism 218

4 A Model of Inspiration and a Unified Future for the Church 219

Scripture and the Spirit 222

Ecstasy and Edification 224

Inspiration and Investigation 225

Index of Modern Authors 228

Index of Subjects and Ancient Names 230

Index of Ancient Sources 238

Editorial Reviews

Encounter
"A challenging and stimulating study on the nature of the Spirit. . . . Students, pastors and theologians will profit from interacting with this thought-provoking work."

Eugene Peterson
— Regent College
"This book on the place of the Holy Spirit in the church and the Christian life is a tour de force. Jack Levison is, in my experience, the most competent scholar and clearest writer on the Holy Spirit that I have known. But he is far more than a scholar; he is a Christian who is passionate to bring biblical clarity and understanding to the church worldwide. . . . I have been on the lookout for colleagues like this as I have worked to counter the dichotomizing of the church over Holy Spirit issues. Levison has become for me the major voice, thoroughly scriptural and non-combative, in this company."

Phyllis Tickle
— founding editor of the Religion Department of Publishers Weekly
"Levison here gives us a brilliant line of argument that is lucidly and almost affectionately delivered — brilliant in that it scintillates with insight after insight and connection after connection, lucid in that Levison writes with the simplicity and directness of genuine authority, and affectionate in that he approaches both his content and us as his readers with the warmest regard. Beyond all that, 'An Agenda for the Future of Pneumatology,' which serves as the concluding section of Inspired, should be required reading for every thoughtful Christian today."

Amos Yong
— Regent University
"Jack Levison probably considers himself neither a prophet nor the son of one. Yet he does what prophets do — identify the presence and activity of the spirit of God in the world and then discern with remarkable clarity the implications such work can and should have for our future. Inspired, aptly titled, will not only inform readers about the spirit but activate, nurture, and enable a spirit-filled way of life, learning, and virtue."

James Dunn
— University of Durham
"Levison's careful study of the Old Testament, early Jewish, and New Testament understanding of spirit — the fruit of twenty years of research — signals something of a revolution in contemporary understanding of the spirit of God. . . . His discussion will instruct afresh those open to learn and will provoke fruitful discussion."

Theological Studies
"An engaging text about a little-known area of information that is essential to deepening comprehension of the New Testament."

Presbyterian Outlook
"Few people write with such warmth and reasoned clarity about the Holy Spirit in Scripture. Here is a theological exploration that will yield great insights as well as faithful practice. This is a careful tracing of the presence of God's Spirit through the terrain of Old Testament right into the New. Like an early mapmaker, Levison provides a wonderful guide to the depth of the Spirit in Scripture."

Theology
"A worthwhile read and addition to any theological library, a useful if not conclusive contribution to pneumatology."

Interpretation
"Inspired builds on the solid exegetical foundation laid in the author's extensive earlier publications. Here the interest is eminently practical. Levison has deep concern about the future of the church as it understands and practices life in the Spirit. . . . Readers are greatly in his debt for the vigor and rich insight that mark his lifelong pursuit to understand the Spirit."

From the Publisher