Pentecostal Theology: Retrospect and Prospect

Abstract

AbstractDue to its vast geographic and numerical expansion, pentecostalism exhibits many of the contextual complexities of a global religious tradition. Therefore, the topic ‘pentecostal theology’ can easily succumb to death by a thousand qualifications. At the same time, there are concrete historical developments and sufficient theological commonalities that allow for a survey that does not underestimate the many variations of pentecostal theology. First, I trace the developments of the ‘three waves’ of pentecostalism. I briefly discuss some of their respective major figures and theological emphases. While the term ‘three waves’ has become a standard designation for recounting the phases of pentecostal history and theology, the rise of academic theology within first‐wave pentecostalism defies some of the schema’s categorizations. Therefore, I, second, trace this turn to academic theology. From their early creation of Bible schools to their more recent attainment of advanced training in religious studies, first‐wave pentecostals demonstrate an increasing interest in obtaining terminal theological training. Some of the most recent of these scholars are the first within first‐wave pentecostalism to take up systematic/constructive theology. While they have produced a significant amount of literature since the beginning of the 1990s, they have yet to receive extensive scholarly assessment. Therefore, I, third, introduce some major pentecostal systematic/constructive theologians.