Customer Reviews

3 Crucial Questions about Spiritual Warfare (Three Crucial Questions)

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3 star:		(1)
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This is the best book I've read on Spiritual Warfare so far! Scholarly, yet written in an understandable and readable fashion. Arnold shows keen awareness on what's been happening in contemporary spiritual warfare teachings.

The 3 questions he answers are, 1. What is Spiritual Warfare? 2. Can a Christian be Demon-Possesed? 3. Are We Called to Engage Territorial Spirits?

The issues he deals with are many. In this book, he manages to be very gentle and loving to both sides of the issue (charismatics and non/anti-charismatics ought to read this book because both can learn from what he has to say) and for that matter, very balanced.

If you're concerned about so called "territorial spirits" Arnold deals with it in a balanced fashion in question 3. If you're concerned about demons and their role in spiritual warfare and whether they can affect or inhabit a Christian, Arnold will provide biblical answers in question 2. And if you just want to know what in the world is spiritual warfare, and how ithe world, flesh and the devil relate to one another and the Christian, then read his answer to the first question.

Overall an excellent book that will bring much balance to the contemporary world of Spiritual warfare - drawing biblical insights from both the more classical and traditional mode of spiritual warfare teachings, as well as the more contemporary/chrismatic ideas on spiritual warfare. Since as Arnold says that, "Spiritual warfare is an integral part of the entire Christian experience", let us therefore seek to have a biblical and balanced view of Spiritual Wwarfare by reading this book! :) God bless!

Dr. Arnold has developed an amazing written work on three important aspects of Spiritual Warfare. He addresses the issues of defining spiritual warfare, can a Christian be demon-possessed, and should we engage in warfare with territorial spirits. In this book, Dr. Arnold doesn't just explain his own personal opinion. He develops the theology behind the practices of others, provides Scripture references, and then concludes with what his study suggests is the truth regarding this issue.

Dr. Arnold gives good presentation for the view points that are not in harmony with his own personal convictions and he presents the material so that the reader can independantly develop their own interpretation. I appreciate his exhaustive study on these issues and this book explained so many things regarding spiritual warfare.

The information Arnold presents should be explained to and understood by every believer. Understanding the material presented does not require a background in SW but will require that the reader have a hunger to learn about these issues. That said, this book would be great reading for experienced Christians as well as new Christians.

This is, without a doubt, the best book I have ever read supporting the questionable view of many Christian teachers, and that is "Can a Christian be influenced by a demon?"
My own experience in deliverance agrees wholeheartedly that it can, and does. Many who disagree with the thesis on the basis of a spatial consideration--i.e.How may a demon occupy the same space as the Holy Spirit? Clinton Arnold tackles this question in a very balanced and biblical way (in spite of an opposite view on this page!) Are there demons in the Church? Yes there are!
He also provides enlightening evidence of early Christian Church teaching regarding deliverance and spiritual warfare in 1st century churches, especially those entering Christian life for the first time, something the modern church appears to have forgotten about completely. I have been a Christian now for 32 years, and NO ONE has ever asked me if I have any spiritual problems residing in my life.
An excellent book for anyone to read regarding the topic of "Spiritual Warfare"!!
A six star book on the subject matter.

Clinton Arnold has captured the essence of the issues surrounding spiritual warfare. He iw well versed in the issues relating to the topic and is well able to balance the variety of thoughts. He is taking an assertive yet measured approach to spiritual warfare and this book serves as a good primer on the topic.

Clinton E. Arnold with his extensive knowledge of early Christianity and expert in biblical study of spiritual warfare has written the most biblical and soundest theology about this topic. He answers the 3 questions: What ist spiritual warfare, Can a Christian be demon-possessed, Are we called to engage territorial spirits. He also reflects on Peter Wagner book "Confronting the Powers". Excellent to read also for laypeople.

Clinton Arnold is, quite possibly, *the* expert on Pauline theology regarding the "principalities and powers." Additionally he has written studies on Ephesians and Colossians on the subject pointing toward an interpretation that accords reality to demonic entities and away from the "demythogizing" tact taken by Walter Wink and others. Additionally, Arnold is familiar (perhaps too familiar) with the leading lights of "deliverance ministry." The questions he deals with are indeed "crucial." And I find his answers both convincing and exegetically sound.

He criticizes the lack of biblical basis for SLSW and censures it's excesses. Likewise he deplores the tendency to concentrate on "the Devil" to the exclusion of "the flesh" and "the world" and the obsession with many in the movement with Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and an secret, underground satanic network. The problem is that he keeps his criticisms general and the fact is that many of the movement's pioneers like Charles Kraft fell hook, link and sinker for the SRA craze and still maintain it exists. He deals with disgraced Mike Warnke, but doesn't mention other flim flam men like Bob Larson.

On the issue of "generational curses" he punts. On the one hand, stating that their is "no direct biblical support" for their existence and robbing them of "3rd and 4th generation" text which is their main proof-text, while on the other, holding out the possibility (a very slight one at that) that there may be "indirect biblical support."

[The "indirect support" is practically non-existent. One of the demoniacs, jesus excorcises is mentioned to be demonized "from childhood." From this Arnold, reasons that the boy couldn't have been responsible, hence it might have been something a relative did. That putting it mildly, is stretching things. Secondly, "from childhood" is not the same as "from birth" or "from infancy." The other instance are the Kings of Judah "committing the sins of their fathers" as possibly lending support. This fails to account for righteous kings like Hezekiah and Josiah being the sons of wicked kings--still less does it explain who Manasseh the most wicked king of all would have the longest reign.]

The fact is that "generational curses" at least as understood by the "power evangelism/spiritual warfare" types is utterly new. Nothing in the Bible. Nothing in the Early Church even remotely hints at anything like it. The problem was when some missionaries like Charle Kraft and Ed Murphy went over to africa and found the belief in generational curses as well as malevolent entities generally. Kraft & Co. rather uncritically took this belief and mixed it with all sorts of western psychobabble.

Add to that the unfortunate tendency of Wagner and others to interrogate entities and think they can put any credence in what they say. The history of "deliverance" is full of demons claiming to be the spirits of the dead. That is no reason to believe them! My guess is that entities know that they won't be believed if they claim to be spirits of the dead so they claim to be "familial spirits"

The devasting consequences of this teaching is such that you have people running around worrying over what their grandparent or great grandparent might have done. Every illness, every setback is the product of demonic attack. (In many ways this is the flip side of the "name it and claim it" teaching. If the Lord don't buy you that Mercedes-Benz, then it must be satan mucking up the business)

With all this going around, Arnold only gives it one paragraph. He's too honest to say there direct biblical support but too embarassed to say that it's a crock. (After all "virtually all" practitioners in deliverance ministry "assert the reality of familial spirits.")

While recovering the NT teaching on evil spirits and the need for deliverance, the Spiritual Warfare movement has a lot of kooky ideas and what's need is for someone like Arnold to grasp the nettle firmly and start namimg names!

This book is required reading for the students I mentor. Arnold is a scholar, and it shows. Yet, this book is very readable and understandable for the lay reader. His approach to Spiritual warfare is balanced, biblical and well reasoned.

Good biblical backing for viewpoint. Helpful in this area, as there are many resources that are not worth buying or reading.

The author of this book teaches at the graduate school I happen to attend. So, when I found his book in a local bookstore, I decided to take a look. To my surprise, I found that Dr. Arnold sides with those who believe that Christians can be "inhabited" by demons, despite the fact that there is not ONE properly interpreted Scripture to support such a view.

I am no novice to Scripture. I've been a Christian (born again of the Spirit) for over 20 years now. I've studied the Bible seriously for over 15 years. I've taught N.T. Greek, and began learning Biblical Hebrew before starting Hebrew classes at Talbot School of Theology. So I would like to think I know the Bible well enough to say that Dr. Arnold has made key errors in interpretation by arguing that Christians can be demonized or inhabited by demon spirits when the Bible itself says no such thing. Even though Dr. Arnold tries to argue that Christians can be demonized in his chapter called "Can a Christian be Demon Possessed?" the fact remains that he engaged in eisegesis, reading INTO the text, instead of exegesis, reading OUT of the text what's clearly there.

This is especially disturbing, since he teaches at an institution that takes pride in its strong stand on the inerrancy and proper interpretation of the Bible. Since I have not read his entire book, I cannot offer an exhaustive review at this time. I will, however, return to do a more thorough review when I have read the entire book. But for now, those desiring to see the Biblical and logical fallacies of those who teach this false doctrine can go to my review of Dr. C. Fred Dickason's book "Demon Possession and the Christian." There I do a full analysis of his book that also refutes the basic claims made in Dr. Arnold's book.

I have been involved with a church that taught the "deliverance" doctrine as well. And during my tenure there I had asked the Lord to show me the truth. And the answer I received was that the doctrine was false. Jesus died for us to be set FREE from the power of sin and powers of satan and his demons.

If we are going to hold to a doctrine, we need to be sure that the doctrine has a solid foundation in the Bible. So far, no one has demonstrated that the doctrine of Christians having demons "inhabiting" them holds up Biblically.