The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology [Paperback]

Jurgen Moltmann (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

"This book, which in my opinion is Moltmann's best, can be recommended on the basis that it contains challenging and creative insights that can be used by the discriminating reader in the service of church renewal…Moltmann represents the theology of liberation at its best, and those who wish to know more about this theology would do well to study this creative and searching theologian." --Donald G. Bloesch Christianity Today "Moltmann is perhaps unsurpassed among his contemporaries in keenness of insight and rhetorical power." --Daniel L. Migliore, Theology Today "Moltmann presents a stirring vision which every Christian community could well ponder…With a missionary emphasis, he seeks to help the reader face the question of the church's identity in the light of the contemporary political, economic, and social scene." --Religious Education

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

Product Details

• Paperback: 430 pages
• Publisher: Fortress Press; 1 edition (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800628217
• ISBN-13: 978-0800628215
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #517,628 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gotta read it., December 10, 2001

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Patrick Oden (San Dimas, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology (Paperback)

It has been one of the distinct pleasures of my academic life to read the works of Jürgen Moltmann. Each text I pick up I find myself enjoying more, and can measure the growth of my own theological development by how much better I am understanding Moltmann. It is, I am finding, impossible to read any of Moltmann?s texts just once and fully understand it. All the books interact and inform each other in a dynamic way. The Church in the Power of the Spirit is Moltmann's "contribution to messianic ecclesiology", an exploration into what the Church is and why the Church exists.

This book expounds on the idea of there being an intimate connection between Christ and the Church. The Church is not only believing in and pointing towards the risen Christ, the Church has Christ as the foundation of its entire being. Moltmann writes, "Every statement about the church will be a statement about Christ. Every statement about Christ also implies a statement about the church." Any theological discussion about the Church, he suggests, must then entail an accompanying discussion of the person and work of Jesus. It is also the case that the Church is not an isolated entity, but rather is a community of those who have been called to be light to this world, spreading the reality of the kingdom through multiple ways, reflecting the presence of God to this world. Because of this aspect, a proper ecclesiology cannot just look at the inner aspects of the church?s being, but must be in continual conversation with how the Church is indeed relating to the world as a whole. With this comes this understanding that the Church as filled with the One Spirit is also One, prompting the continual development of understanding not only how the Church is One, but actively engaging in conversation to discover how the Church could once again practically actually be united. Because God is not only active in "religious" arenas, but is seeking to save the whole world, Moltmann argues for a political dimension which is required of the Church, engaging it in not only the proclamation of future rewards but also the active work towards a present transformation of society.

These four dimensions are then framed within what can be called a Trinitarian outline. Moltmann begins by looking at the work and influence of Jesus, seeking to understand how Jesus did live, expounding on his emphases, and reflecting on the shape that his ministry took. Rather than seeking to simply let the proclamation be about Jesus, Moltmann argues that the proclamation should be that of Jesus. He follows this with a section exploring the kingdom of God, showing the work of God prior to, and even outside of, the Christian church, showing that the Church is not representing the fullness of the kingdom, but is in fact a participant, a living piece which is part of God?s whole plan to save this whole world. He then has two sections which connect the Church to the Holy Spirit, first focusing on how the Church is in the presence of the Holy Spirit, then showing how the Church is in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Spirit that animates, leads, expands, and matures the Church, giving content to our worship and power to our plans. Only at the end, in a last brief session, does Moltmann discuss the actual marks of the Church, showing how the prior sections reflect in an actual existence, taking up, as did Kung, the idea of unity, catholicity, holiness, and apostolicity. One of Moltmann?s distinctive emphases as a theologian is his attraction to a political theology. For him, the power of the Spirit in the life of the Church is not limited to the confines of the Church, but is active in redemption throughout various structures, demanding that we act in a way which reflects this redemption of what is usually called the secular.

While there is much to be agreed and disagreed with, this text is one anyone interested in the study of the Church simply must wrestle with.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jurgen Moltmann, "The Church in the Power of the Spirit", May 25, 2008

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Edward C. Liebman (Newberg, OR) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology (Paperback)

"The Church in the Power of the Spirit" was written in 1977 as part of a theological enterprize begun in 1968 and still going on. What stands out to me about his systematic theological thinking is his application of theology to contermporary social crises such as poverty, hunger, war and ecology and the creative innovation he employs in doctrines of the Trinity, Creation, the Church, and particularly the Holy Spirit. This book as its title indicates deals with innovations in church doctrine and practice influenced by the liberating power of the Holy Spirit, especially in light of the eschatological (last things) mission of Jesus as Messiah. It is pregnant with thrilling insights. The only downside might be from the typically German syntax which makes for difficult reading complicated by constant reference to building stones in his overall theological system. If one can make it through out, the rewards awaiting the reader are plentious.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Radical Reorientation, October 25, 2000

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valerie w. stultz (mount vernon, ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Church in the Power of the Spirit: A Contribution to Messianic Ecclesiology (Paperback)

Moltmann challenges the reader to think "outside of the box" with regard to ecclesiology. His model for church is organic, freeing the reader to imagine herself as an ecclesiological architect. Anyone struggling with the confines of traditional church structure will enjoy the journey with Moltmann.