Trinity After Pentecost

by William P Atkinson

Overview

This book views the triune God from a Pentecostal viewpoint. In so doing, it offers a fresh articulation of the theology of the Trinity that starts with Pentecost and with the Spirit. It concludes that the Trinity cannot be adequately appreciated using any single model--whether social, modal, or psychological. Instead, it presents three models--relational, instrumental, and substantial--that need to be held in paradoxical tension with one another. Of these, the relational is the foremost. Pentecost offers rich potential for seeing these relations between the Father, the Son, and the Spirit as a dynamic reciprocal "dance" in which each person empties self in order to exalt the other. "This is an excellent book written in a lucid and lively manner. It makes an important and original contribution to Trinitarian theology from the perspective of Pentecost. . . . It is a must-read for all students and scholars of contemporary pentecostal and charismatic theology." --Mark J. Cartledge, Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Birmingham, UK "Mysterious yet illuminating! Paradoxical yet clarifying! Opaque yet brilliant! Atkinson shows that starting with the Spirit poured out at Pentecost opens up multiple dissonant and yet altogether coherent tongues and pathways toward a dynamic, perichoretic, and relational theology of the Trinity that anticipates the fullness of eschatological divine glory. No longer is the Spirit the shy, hidden, or neglected Trinitarian member." --Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Dean, School of Divinity, Regent University "Atkinson's call for a pneumatological Trinitarianism is reminiscent of Basil of Caesarea, who, among the early church fathers, warned against failing to appreciate the full deity of the Spirit as the third person of the Trinity. Atkinson shows that without an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit given to the church on the day of Pentecost, one's theology of God is defective and one's worship of the triune God is diminished. This book is lucidly written and a joy to read." --Laurence W. Wood, Professor of Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary "Trinity After Pentecost is further evidence, if proof was needed, that pentecostal theology has come of age. With expert skill, William Atkinson explores the doctrine of the Trinity from the unusual angle of Pentecost. Like a wise tour guide, he takes his readers step-by-step and leads them to some adventurous conclusions. Theologians and practitioners, Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals will be enriched by reading this cleverly titled, engagingly written, and thought-provoking book." --Derek Tidball, Former Principal, London School of Theology, Past President of Baptist Union of Great Britain William P. Atkinson is Director of Research and a Senior Lecturer in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies at the London School of Theology. He is author of the award-winning The "Spiritual Death" of Jesus (2009) and Baptism in the Spirit (2011).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781620327791
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	06/18/2013
Pages:	194
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

William Atkinson grew up in London, England and studied medicine in Edinburgh, Scotland. After working briefly as a medical doctor, he heard God's call to church ministry and took up a position on the ministry team at Kensington Temple, London. He gained a Master's Degree in Theology from London Bible College. In 1997, William became principal of Regents Theological College. While there, he completed a PhD with Edinburgh University in 2007. In the same year, he moved back into local church ministry in southeast England. Since 2011, he has worked at the London School of Theology, where he was a vice-principal. He continues there as a senior lecturer in Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies. He is on the Board of Advisers of the Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship and is a member of the European Pentecostal Theological Association. He has written several books as well as both scholarly and "popular" articles. William has been married to Alison since 1983. They have two sons: Iain and Stephen.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 Introductory Matters 1

2 Pentecost and the Spirit 39

3 Pentecost and the Son 77

4 Pentecost and the Father 113

5 Pentecost and the Trinity 145

Bibliography 167

Subject Index 173

Author Index 177

Ancient Document Index 179

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This is an excellent book written in a lucid and lively manner. It makes an important and original contribution to Trinitarian theology from the perspective of Pentecost. . . . It is a must-read for all students and scholars of contemporary pentecostal and charismatic theology."
—Mark J. Cartledge, Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Birmingham, UK

"Mysterious yet illuminating! Paradoxical yet clarifying! Opaque yet brilliant! Atkinson shows that starting with the Spirit poured out at Pentecost opens up multiple dissonant and yet altogether coherent tongues and pathways toward a dynamic, perichoretic, and relational theology of the Trinity that anticipates the fullness of eschatological divine glory. No longer is the Spirit the shy, hidden, or neglected Trinitarian member."
—Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Dean, School of Divinity, Regent University

"Atkinson's call for a pneumatological Trinitarianism is reminiscent of Basil of Caesarea, who, among the early church fathers, warned against failing to appreciate the full deity of the Spirit as the third person of the Trinity. Atkinson shows that without an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit given to the church on the day of Pentecost, one's theology of God is defective and one's worship of the triune God is diminished. This book is lucidly written and a joy to read."
—Laurence W. Wood, Professor of Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

"Trinity After Pentecost is further evidence, if proof was needed, that pentecostal theology has come of age. With expert skill, William Atkinson explores the doctrine of the Trinity from the unusual angle of Pentecost. Like a wise tour guide, he takes his readers step-by-step and leads them to some adventurous conclusions. Theologians and practitioners, Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals will be enriched by reading this cleverly titled, engagingly written, and thought-provoking book."
—Derek Tidball, Former Principal, London School of Theology, Past President of Baptist Union of Great Britain

Editorial Reviews

"This is an excellent book written in a lucid and lively manner. It makes an important and original contribution to Trinitarian theology from the perspective of Pentecost. . . . It is a must-read for all students and scholars of contemporary pentecostal and charismatic theology."
—Mark J. Cartledge, Director of the Centre for Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies, University of Birmingham, UK

"Mysterious yet illuminating! Paradoxical yet clarifying! Opaque yet brilliant! Atkinson shows that starting with the Spirit poured out at Pentecost opens up multiple dissonant and yet altogether coherent tongues and pathways toward a dynamic, perichoretic, and relational theology of the Trinity that anticipates the fullness of eschatological divine glory. No longer is the Spirit the shy, hidden, or neglected Trinitarian member."
—Amos Yong, Professor of Theology and Dean, School of Divinity, Regent University

"Atkinson's call for a pneumatological Trinitarianism is reminiscent of Basil of Caesarea, who, among the early church fathers, warned against failing to appreciate the full deity of the Spirit as the third person of the Trinity. Atkinson shows that without an adequate understanding of the Holy Spirit given to the church on the day of Pentecost, one's theology of God is defective and one's worship of the triune God is diminished. This book is lucidly written and a joy to read."
—Laurence W. Wood, Professor of Theology and Wesley Studies, Asbury Theological Seminary

"Trinity After Pentecost is further evidence, if proof was needed, that pentecostal theology has come of age. With expert skill, William Atkinson explores the doctrine of the Trinity from the unusual angle of Pentecost. Like a wise tour guide, he takes his readers step-by-step and leads them to some adventurous conclusions. Theologians and practitioners, Pentecostals and non-Pentecostals will be enriched by reading this cleverly titled, engagingly written, and thought-provoking book."
—Derek Tidball, Former Principal, London School of Theology, Past President of Baptist Union of Great Britain

From the Publisher

Atkinson is an extremely clear writer, and I would recommend this book to anyone, academically trained or otherwise…to anyone who seeks to understand more about the Spirit's role and importance within the Trinity, and to anyone who is interested in exploring a fresh, but ultimately very traditional, account of the doctrine of the Trinity.

Volume 127(5), 2016 - Joanna Leidenhag

This is a fine, concise, systematic and inspiring book about the Trinity. Atkinson's style, as those who have read his other books know, is noted for its clarity and precision…This is a book that I hope will become a classic among Pentecostals since it addresses issues that are well beyond the sterile argumentation that sometimes occurs.

vol 35 issue 1, April 2015 - William K. Kay