Thinking in the Spirit: Theologies of the Early Pentecostal Movement

by Douglas Jacobsen

Overview

This book is about the boisterous beginnings of the American pentecostal movement and the ideas that defined it during its formative years. It focuses on the movement's most articulate spokespersons and how those twelve individuals rethought the Christian faith in light of their new experience of God and developed a new pentecostal language of faith. As the pentecostal movement has grown, the ideas of these early theologians have been borrowed, appropriated, extended, and refined in ways they did not foresee or fully intend. Yet the basic framework has remained the same. Jacobsen examines these migrating ideas in their original forms of expression, and he explores how these inventive thinkers improvised language, bent the meanings of old words, and invented new phrases to help their readers better understand the ways they believed God's Spirit was present in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253110886
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	11/20/2003
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	440
File size:	595 KB

About the Author

Douglas Jacobsen is Distinguished Professor of Church History and Theology at Messiah College.

Table of Contents

	Preface	IX
	Acknowledgments	XV
	Introduction: What Is Pentecostal Theology?	1
1	Original Visions	16
2	Theologies of the Azusa Era	57
3	Holiness and Finished-Work Options	134
4	Oneness Options	194
5	Theology and Race	260
6	Theology at the Boundaries of the Pentecostal Movement	286
	Conclusion	353
	Notes	365
	Bibliography	405
	Index	409

Editorial Reviews

"The American Pentecostal movement transformed church history in the 20th century. With roots in the 19th-century holiness revival, which taught believers to seek a second work of sanctification after their conversion, Pentecostalism added speaking in tongues as the necessary evidence of Holy Spirit baptism. Jacobsen (Messiah College) describes theological ideas from the first generation of Pentecostals, c. 1900, 1925, by closely analyzing the published writings of 12 of the most interesting and articulate leaders. Some choices are obvious, such as Charles Parham, founder of Pentecostal theology, and William Seymour, leader of the Azusa revival, which launched Pentecostalism into international recognition. On the other hand, Jacobsen also includes healing revivalist Fred Francis Bosworth, who embraced tongues but denied their necessity. Early Pentecostal theology was closely linked to spiritual experience—my experience is my creed, proclaimed one of the leaders—and was especially fluid before becoming more fixed after about 1925. As Pentecostal denominations such as the Assemblies of God matured, they also became more racially segregated. Jacobsen consistently makes good use of recent secondary sources to give historical perspective. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers/faculty."—W. B. Bedford, Crown College , 2004jul CHOICE

From the Publisher

The American Pentecostal movement transformed church history in the 20th century. With roots in the 19th-century holiness revival, which taught believers to seek a second work of sanctification after their conversion, Pentecostalism added speaking in tongues as the necessary evidence of Holy Spirit baptism. Jacobsen (Messiah College) describes theological ideas from the first generation of Pentecostals, c. 1900, 1925, by closely analyzing the published writings of 12 of the most interesting and articulate leaders. Some choices are obvious, such as Charles Parham, founder of Pentecostal theology, and William Seymour, leader of the Azusa revival, which launched Pentecostalism into international recognition. On the other hand, Jacobsen also includes healing revivalist Fred Francis Bosworth, who embraced tongues but denied their necessity. Early Pentecostal theology was closely linked to spiritual experience—my experience is my creed, proclaimed one of the leaders—and was especially fluid before becoming more fixed after about 1925. As Pentecostal denominations such as the Assemblies of God matured, they also became more racially segregated. Jacobsen consistently makes good use of recent secondary sources to give historical perspective. Summing Up: Recommended. Graduate students and researchers/faculty.

Crown College , 2004jul CHOICE - W. B. Bedford