Customer Reviews

A Century of Holiness Theology: The Doctrine of Entire Sanctification in the Church of the Nazarene: 1905 to 2004

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I have often wondered how Nazarene's deal with the "Pentecostal" language (and almost theology) in their churches. The two movements (Wesleyan-Holiness & Pentecostal) are so closely related that the early Pentecostals actually used Nazarene theology books and other Wesleyan texts for their Bible training (see Donald Dayton's THE THEOLOGICAL ROOTS OF PENTECOSTALISM). However, the Nazarenes and other Wesleyan-Holiness groups quickly distanced themselves from the early Pentecostals and even becoming some of the Pentecostals biggest persecutors.

This excellent work by Mark Quanstrom is a well researched and theological look at the changing of the teaching of the doctrine of entire sanctification. Quanstrom shows how the early Nazarenes taught and practiced the doctrine versus modern Nazarenes. Sadly, with time many Nazarenes have dropped much of their distinctive doctrines such as entire sanctification and Spirit-Baptism language for more evangelical terms. Further, many have moved away from their historical roots based strongly on Wesley and Arminian teachings toward more Calvinistic and progressive sanctification views.

A well thought out, well researched, well written overview of Nazarene theology over the past 100 years.

An interesting book by Mark Quanstrom for Nazarenes interested in the shifts in holiness theology in the 20th century. He argues that there are two competing theories of holiness today-generally represented by Richard Taylor and Mildred Wynkoop. The book is only what it claims to be--the hundred-year story of the doctrine of holiness among Nazarenes... if you are not a Nazarene you'll be disappointed at how significant matters relating to changes in holiness doctrine that happened outside of the Church of the Nazarene are ignored or treated lightly. If you are a Nazarene buy it, if not wait until someone emerges about 2015 to write about the entire movement and not merely one denomination. (Maybe Donald Dayton?) --Keith Drury, Associate Professor of Religion, Indiana Wesleyan University </I>

This book provides a clear and readable history of holiness doctrine in the Nazarene church. This book highlights the historical development from Wesley himself and up into the contemporary setting of the current debates of how sanctification should be understood. A true scholarly work written in very accessible language.

This is a good book to learn of the history of the Holiness of the Nazarene Church. It was needed in a class at Nazarene Bible College.