Customer Reviews

Flame of Love: A Theology of the Holy Spirit

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Written by Clark Pinnock, 'Flame of Love' is a mini systematic theology written with a pneumatological emphasis. Theology, Cosmology, Christology, Ecclesiology, Soteriology, Eschatology, and the doctrine of the Word are all covered, each seen through the lens of the Spirit. Pinnock has tried to emphasize the dynamism of the Spirit's presence in the world, and the importance of a relational understanding of God's communion with man.

When I first read this book, for some reason I dismissed it. Perhaps because the style is somewhat stilted. But having returned to it several times over the course of two years, I find myself being edified by it again and again. Pinnock brings out observations about God's character that I had not thought about before, through Scripture passages I had not considered. And so, the more I read 'Flame of Love' the more I am impressed by the depth of his theology, and the personal challenges it presents to me as an evangelical struggling to make sense of my relationship to God. I've read my share of theologians, many of whom I have read with an academic interest that has rarely touched the core of my being, but somehow Pinnock's works actually edify my mind and my soul, and each book I've put down has palpably helped me reach greater intimacy with God.

One of the things that struck me most about Pinnock's theology is its orthodox character. Many Reformed people criticize Pinnock as an innovator whose beliefs stand outside the pale of Christian orthodoxy (small 'o'). But it was remarkable to compare 'Flame of Love' with Bishop Kallistos Ware's 'The Orthodox Way', or his open theistic views with those of Richard Swinburne (a recent convert to Eastern Orthodoxy). The same emphasis on a dynamic relational presence of the Triune God in the world is present in both works, which leads me to believe that while Pinnock may be beyond the pale of Calvinist orthodoxy, he is in good company with other Christian traditions, especially Eastern Orthodoxy. In short, I would highly recommend this work.

I was deeply encouraged by this book.

It is well written and includes the scholarly depth (including a wealth of notes an references) that I was looking for in a theological text of this nature. I was also keen to read first hand some of the work by this much talked about (good and bad) writer.

The surprise to me was also the beauty of this work. It is devotionally enjoyable and really communicates to both the intellect and the heart something of the passion and joy of Holy Spirit's pervasive work among a much loved creation.

I heartily commend it and it provides a good platform from which to consider some of the more controvertial statements for which Pinnock is famous. It certainly convinced me that here is a man with a theological model which is worthy of further consideration. It really does encourage both a more biblical and a more spirit-led life from what might be branded a post-modern theology.

Read and enjoy.

____Clark Pinnock is one of the most productive theologians in the 20th century. Contrary to some of the other critics, this book is less about open theism and more about God's dynamic relationship with us. It is a master work that no classical theist has to date come up to with respect to raw theologizing in defending God's dynamic work "through" His Spirit in our world in "classical" theism. Many classical theists can complain--and they do with a vengeance--but let them provide some substance. On open theism itself, Pinnock has now weighed in with his Most Moved Mover that blasts through the settled God of classical theism with far more kindness, erudition, finesse, and "Christian" spirit than Pinnock's adversaries (Bruce Ware and John Frame in particular, and I take these two to task in the appendices of my own book, Heart of the Living God, seen at www.preciousheart.net).

____What Pinnock has done, as one author has said, is look seriously as all of the Bible believing traditions. Pinnock is certainly not Roman Catholic (RC), but that also does not mean that RC theologians do not have a lot to contribute (even classical Protestant theologians quote and profit from sterline RC theologians). We don't have to agree on every point to see God working in many traditions, and the Bible is the authoritative guide. Pinnock takes us to new levels of sophistication--even daringly so--with just what the Holy Spirit's activity means in our lives today.

____I say some of this to my own chagrin, for in my schools (Criswell College, SWBTS, NOBTS, from 1978 to 1997) Pinnock's work was not given a fair shake. I know now why. I read his Flame of Love for the first time just a little while ago, AFTER having been taken in and hugged by his Most Moved Mover (and sloppily slapped around by Ware's and Frame's lackluster critiques). I had to see more. One does not have to be a full open theists to appreciate those to defend our living, real-time, and dynamic relationship with God--my goodness no--and the classical critics should be ashamed that they have not come up to speed themselves in just what is open or truly dynamic in our relationship besides their own complaining about openness.

____Having said all of that, even though Flame of Love is already a little dated--it is still ground breaking in many ways and deserves far more the mere tribbling complaints. Most especially since the critics of it have hardly weighed in with ANYTHING as substantial on what "dynamic living relationship" with our heavenly Father means.

____What is Love? What is the role of the Holy Spirit in Love? This book gives some insights from a master theologian's hands, punctuated throughout with solid quotes from other masters. Heck fire and tickle my innards, read this book just for the quotes and references--that would be worth the price--but Pinnock has a pithy, rich and direct voice all his own.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is not quite sure what to believe about the Holy Spirit, and to anyone who has accidently or purposely left the Holy Spirit out of his or her Christian life. Mr. Pinnock is an excellent guide: he explains theological terms in understandable words without being patronizing, and doctrines that could be controversial, he presents rationally and quietly. I learned about penal and participatory atonement, filioque, Orthodox views and Eastern and Western ideas, and how the resurrection triumphs over the cross. He shows that the Holy Spirit is love in action, the very thing that is needed by churches of any denomination. After reading this book, I now fully realize how important to salvation the Holy Spirit is. Be ready for a wonderful journey into the rest of your life.

I've been reading theology and philosophy for 30 years. Oddly, this is the first book I've come across where the theologian admits being deeply in love with the Lord whom he serves! But it isn't just Pinnock's personal passion that enlivens the book's message; it is his thoroughgoing knowledge and positive integration of Eastern and Western Christion traditions, as well as his grounding of pneumatology in Trinitarian and Christological theology that makes the book a resounding success. I underlined sentences on practically every page. Thanks, Clark, for an inspired masterpiece on the Person and activity of the Holy Spirit!

OK, so you can listen to the guy who's copy/pasting stuff from some other article (twice even!) OR, you can find out what's in this book for yourself. Here's a synopsis of just one of the chapters of "Flame of Love", from my Theology final for seminary.

This is focusing on three concepts, as they appear in Ch.3 "Spirit & Christology" in this book:

Representation-

(P. 87) (Pinnock tells us)"Following the baptism (of Christ), Spirit took the initiative and drove Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. As a representative of the human race, Jesus was going to have to experience what Adam suffered and conquer it. The temptations were aimed at his vocation as the anointed representative of humankind."

So for Pinnock, representation seems very much the same thing as recapitulation. Christ is self-emptied and dependent on the Spirit, much as we would have to be in order to conquer the temptations of Satan. This is the author's view of how Christ "becomes" our savior.

Participation-

The author discusses C.S. Lewis on this concept (P. 105) and states "Christ became human in order to exist vicariously for us, that we might share in his life, death, and resurrection. In this view we are saved by identifying with him and becoming like him." This is the author's view of how we enter into the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.

Recapitulation-

Pinnock writes "Something happened through the total journey of Jesus Christ that literally change the world and opened the door wide to union with God." (p.93) Later he adds (p.95) "This is the theme of Irenaeus and the fist theory of atonement. God sent his son in the power of the Spirit to enact a recapitulation of human history through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ, which would give the human race a new start." Recapitulation, of course, means that God in Christ has become humankind's "new representative head." The new Adam replaces the old.

*****

I actually read this particular book by Pinnock a few years ago, having purchased it when it was new, and I find it's my favorite of all of his writings I have ever read. It's also the only one that gets us more thoroughly into Scripture and one that I can recommend without too many qualifications. (As opposed to "Openness" and "Unbounded".)

What really would be interesting is to see if there are some books along this line that get us deeper into Pinnock's background. One would be a commentary or a study on Hebrews that is geared towards mining the recapitulation ideas out of the text. The other would be an in-depth study of Irenaeus' theology. As good as Pinnock has gotten here, it seems best to investigate the Biblical and historical records for themselves.

Pinnock's systematic work presents a broad overview of the dynamic personhood and cosmic work of the Holy Spirit. The author shows the Spirit as active in creation and redemption, both in effusing supernatural gifts upon the Church and in activating existing natural potentials (pp. 130, 137). While those who approach this work with an expectation of exploring a purely Pneumatological topic may be overwhelmed the breadth of Pinnock's theological treatment, the author makes efforts to ground this scope of study with an explanation of his intention to examine "the Christian vision" from a Spirit-based perspective (pp. 17-18). While academic in content, Pinnock endeavors to incorporate practical principles that encourage the reader to live a life of dependence upon the Holy Spirit. As Jesus preferred to demonstrate the power of the Spirit "rather than to speak about it," so believers today must follow in His steps and enter into a life- pattern that seeks to act out of the Spirit's resources (p. 86). Such a focus on dynamic power does not regard the Spirit's manifestations as ends in themselves, however, but rather moves towards an overall direction of life that continually endeavors to break off the heavy burdens of this world that hinder participation in the joyous and creative dance of God. Pinnock explains that God's creative workings and historic acts serve the purpose of fostering "a community of personal relationships" that reflect His Triune nature, "where the gifts of each person are celebrated and nurtured" (p. 45). For those desiring a more comprehensive understanding of this "community of divinity" in general, and of the universal nature of the workings of the Spirit in particular, Pinnock's work provides both a sound and challenging starting point for a lifelong pursuit of the fullness of life in the Spirit.

In Pinnock's book on the Holy Spirit I am challenged theologically in a way that is refreshing. Far from minimizing the role of the Holy Spirit, Pinnock expands the Spirit's role and reaches out to all traditions. It is good to also see his use of Orthodox and Pentecostal theologies which find much in common in the doctines of the Holy Spirit.

Bravo to this kind of scholarship, may it continue!

Clark Pinnock challenges one to think and look at things from a perspective that doesn't necessarily follow along traditional lines. On page 147 he points out, "Most of us are not accustomed to viewing atonement in the context of Christ's representative journey. We are used to thinking of it in a legal framework in which god, the angry judge, requires retribution and satisfaction. God is viewed as humankind's enemy, whose justice must be satisfied before he is willing to receive them."

I've read numerous books by Clark Pinnock (Most Moved Mover), Greg Boyd (Is God To Blame), John Sanders (God Who Risks) and many other authors, and books by these same authors. They all present Scripture and tradition in a perspective that has led me to feel closer to God and not to fear a God that judges harshly and demands retribution. They've helped me develope a relationship with Jesus that really feels like a relationship and not a contractural agreement.

He mentions that "like Eastern Orthodox theologians, I do not see humanity's relationship with God as primarily a legal one or atonement as primarily legal."

I haven't finished the book yet (I'm about two thirds through it) but I notice that I'd have been better off underlining the parts that I didn't want to remember instead of the parts that I do want to remember. I've underlined about three parts on each page. It's one of those books that I can't wait to resume reading but get nervous as I'm nearing the end because I don't want it to end.

The book reads quite easily regardless of where one happens to be on their walk with Jesus and I'd recommend it for anyone that has questions about the nature and attributes of God that might be standing in the way of the kind of a relationship that we all long for.

Originally published on my blog at [...]

Christian Century asked eight diverse theologians for their list of the most important theology books of the past 25 years. It was an interesting list. There were a ton of books on it that I had not read. So I added a bunch to my Amazon Wish List and a friend bought me several of them as a gift.

My first book from this list was Flame of Love. I have read Pinnock's book on preaching in seminary but I have not read any of his theology books before. Based on this, I will likely be reading more.

I think that the Holy Spirit is quite neglected, both in my own theology and in general among most Christians. Some Christians seem to have replaced the Holy Spirit with the Holy Scripture as the third member of the trinity. The book started out with one of the best theologies of the Trinity that I have ever read.

There is also several different sections that read like a proto-NT Wright. Flame of Love was written in 1996, years before Suprised by Hope. While Surprised by Hope was really about Heaven and the Resurrection, the sections in Flame of Love that are similar are about salvation and the role of the Holy Spirit in Salvation, the role of the Holy Spirit in the church and the role of the Holy Spirit in the individual Christians union with God.

I was very interested in Pinnock's response to Penal substitution theory of salvation. He does not at all reject Penal Substitution, but instead suggests that there are at least two other images of salvation in scripture that are usually ignored by Protestants, Union with God and Representative Journey. Pinnock suggests that one of the weaknesses of only using Penal Substitution, which is what was emphasized in the reformation, is that we tend to look at salvation as an event, not a process. Both Union with God and Representative Journey are about the process more than the event. I think that salvation is both a process and an event, so having a theology of salvation that includes all three as partial descriptors helps to balance our view of salvation.

There is also a very good section that is similar to Wright's (but better) about the Spirit's ongoing role in the creation and maintenance of the universe.

The most controversial chapter will probably be the one on Spirit and Union. This is about how the Spirit draws us into relationship with God. The section on baptism will probably have something that irritates everyone, but makes some interesting points about baptism and the Spirit. This is also by far the most Arminian chapter. Reformed readers may want to skip it if they do not like being challenged. Other than this chapter, I think most Reformed readers will enjoy this book.