Abstract
The emergence of the various forms of Pentecostal and Charismatic theology has led to a welcome interest in the third Person of the Trinity, who has been largely neglected for centuries. However, while there has been a concentration on the experience of the Spirit, this has not been matched by an understanding of his work. The ancient idea, seen especially in Augustine, is that the main activity of the Spirit is that of providing relationship, as the “bond of love”; this provides a key concept which undergirds the work of the Spirit in creation, redemption, sanctification and empowering. It is hoped that increased understanding of the work of the Spirit will contribute to the healing of divisions in Christianity which emerged out of conflictingattitudes to the modern experiences.
Highlights
The last century has witnessed a concentration on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, sparked off by the events at Azusa Street in Los Angeles in the early years of the twentieth century
The particular features of this were the belief in a second experience of the “baptism” or filling of the Spirit and the practice of the “gifts”, the charismata, the phenomena described in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14, and in Acts 2; such as prophecy, healing and glossolalia, “speaking in tongues”, became a central feature of Christian life and worship in these groups
It used to be commonly said that the Holy Spirit was the “forgotten person of the Godhead” (Ferguson 1996:11)
Summary
The last century has witnessed a concentration on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit, sparked off by the events at Azusa Street in Los Angeles in the early years of the twentieth century These resulted in the emergence and development of the Pentecostal denominations. 2014: 2 movements had a pronounced effect on the Church as a whole, not least because they account for about a quarter of all Christians (Hummel 1993:290) Their influence is seen in the style of worship, as there was an explosion of new songs in a much more contemporary form than the traditional hymns. If the role and function of the Spirit is clarified, it will be to the benefit of all wings of the Church, and even contribute to harmony between the new and the traditional denominations. This division is arguably the one that is the most significant in the modern Church, eclipsing the old denominational differences, which are rarely understood among modern Christians
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
