or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
Sell Us Your Item
For a $2.00 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

The Holy Spirit (Contours of Christian Theology) [Paperback]

Sinclair B. Ferguson
3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

List Price: $22.00
Price: $15.63 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.37 (29%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, June 20? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Paperback $15.63  
Image
Save on Popular Books This Summer
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more.

Book Description

August 22, 1997 Contours of Christian Theology
The Holy Spirit, once forgotten, has been "rediscovered" in the twentieth century--or has he? Sinclair Ferguson believes we should rephrase this common assertion: "While his has been recognized, the Spirit remains to many Christians an anonymous, faceless aspect of the divine being." In order to redress this balance, Ferguson seeks to recover the of the Spirit fully as much as the and

Ferguson's study is rooted and driven by the scriptural story of the Spirit in creation and redemption. Throughout he shows himself fully at home in the church's historical theology of the Spirit and conversant with the wide variety of contemporary Christians who have explored the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

Foundational issues are surveyed and clarified. Hard questions are explored and answered. Clarity and insight radiate from every page. Here is the mature reflection of a Reformed theologian who will summon respect and charity from those who disagree.

Frequently Bought Together

The Holy Spirit (Contours of Christian Theology) + Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church (Foundations of Evangelical Theology)
Price for both: $41.36

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"This series has been around for over a decade now and has established itself as providing learned yet accessible treatments of key topics in systematic theology. The authors are not only fine theological thinkers, they are also passionate churchmen with a love for God's people and a desire to see the church grow in her knowledge of grace. Each volume blends exegesis, theological synthesis and judicious dialogue with the history of theology to provide an excellent treatment of the chosen topic. Highly recommended for thoughtful Christians who want to deepen their knowledge of Christian theology." (Carl R. Trueman, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary)

"Read everything in the IVP Contours of Theology series. Pure gold." (Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan)

"This excellent volume takes its place in the Contours of Christian Theology series between The Work of Christ and The Church. It is a very able exposition of the orthodox Reformed understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The style is attractive without losing accuracy; thus the book is more readable than many theological volumes that tend to be skeletal. The wholehearted commitment to Scripture is manifest through abundant references and crisp exegesis of some difficult passages. One can see here the valuable combination of a mind permeated with revealed truth with a sense of the profound unity in diversity of the various administrations of the covenant of grace. We might note the insights concerning the correlation of the three Persons of the Trinity, the relationship between the Old and New Testament in the unity of the redemptive purpose of God, the connections between the various elements of soteriology, the modern discussions about cessation or continuation of supernatural gifts, not to mention many other topics. The author is well informed, lucid in the presentation of his views and in the discussion of alternative positions. More than many other theologians he is serene in his conscious obedience to the teaching of Scripture and therefore generous toward those with whom he differs." (Roger Nicole, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida)

"Sinclair Ferguson has done an extraordinary piece of work. This is the most comprehensive treatment of the person and work of the Holy Spirit from a Reformed perspective since Abraham Kuyper." (R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries)

"In characteristic fashion Sinclair Ferguson has once again provided thoughtful readers with a wise, comprehensive, balanced and thoroughly biblical treatment of an important area of theology--the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. All the major questios and texts are treated, and the chapter on 'The Cosmic Spirit,' which deals with universalism, is itself worth the book's price." (James M. Boice, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

"Because this book is thorough and reliable, fresh and full of insight, and its tone is pastoral and constructive, it is among the best treatments of this subject." (David Wells, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary)

About the Author

Sinclair B. Ferguson is senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and serves as professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Dallas, Texas.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 288 pages
  • Publisher: IVP Academic (August 22, 1997)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0830815368
  • ISBN-13: 978-0830815364
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1 x 9.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #67,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars
(17)
3.9 out of 5 stars
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 26 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and Necessary December 8, 2003
Format:Paperback
This book by Ferguson is now 7 years old, but it remains an essential treatment of the Holy Spirit from a Reformed perspective. As Ferguson aptly notes early on, fascination with the work of the Holy Spirit has greatly increased in the last 100 years in Christian circles, but knowledge and understanding of the Spirit Himself remains more elusive than ever it seems. This book is a wonderful remedy to this starvation.

Ferguson takes a very mild mannered tone throughout his presentation. Even the section of the book where he registers his sharpest theological disagreement (in this case, with Grudem), he is charitable and properly recognizes the importance of theology's role to increase understanding and knowledge, but also the depth of Christian community.

As is to be expected from a book written by a professor from Westminster Seminary, the reader can expect to get a healthy dosage of Vos/Ridderbos Biblical theology in here. Ferguson adopts the favored Westminster view that the New Testament needs to be seen within the context of redemptive history, and particularly eschatology. As a result, Ferguson's treatment of the presence and work of the Holy Spirit is seen within an eschatological context that stresses His role in the 'already/not yet' period of the coming of the Kingdom. What this means is that a reader who picks up this book who is enamored more with a systematic theological approach will find a different approach undertaken here. Particularly in Ferguson's treatment of the ordo salutis, the scholastic approach is mostly spurned in favor of a Biblical Theological approach that stresses the believer's unity in Christ within redemptive history as the predominate motif of the Spirit's work....

Ferguson's early detail on the Person of the Holy Spirit is highly informative and a needed premise to analyzing the work of the Holy Spirit. In this respect, Ferguson does retain elements of a more traditional systematic theological approach, but also employs a literary approach as well which is the latest thing in theological formulation. In addition, Ferguson's section on sanctification is outstanding and should aid believers in the perennial dilemma of what to make of the old self/new self imagery in the Bible, as well as the inner personal struggle we experience that frustrates and even perplexes us at times. Lastly, Ferguson's section on the Spirit's ministry gifts is outstanding. He comes to this discussion from a cessationist perspective, but is very charitable in his critique and seeks not to minimize or dismiss personal experience, but to incorporate such experience within what he believes is a Biblical framework.

Overall, this book is definitely a worthy successor to Kuyper's work a century ago, and is a book that is much needed in Reformed circles to regain the appreciation and dependence we should be feeling toward the Holy Spirit in all phases of our living. Highly recommended. Read more ›

Was this review helpful to you?
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Rich and Sumptuous Theological Feast May 10, 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Sinclair Ferguson's biblical-theological treatment on the Holy Spirit is a rich and sumptuous theological feast for any serious-minded believer who wants to know more about the so-called "shy member of the Trinity." In eleven meaty chapters, Ferguson gives a comprehensive, if not exhaustive, biblical overview of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, all along the way drawing on historical theology and charitably interacting with perspectives different from his own.

Chapter one, "The Spirit and His Story" surveys the Old Testament's more shadowy teaching on the Holy Spirit with a careful biblical-theological approach. "The Spirit of Christ" (chapter two) is an exceptionally rich chapter on the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus. Christ is seen as the quintessential "Man of the Spirit." Because his entire life was lived in the Spirit's power (Ferguson starts with his conception and moves through the various aspects of Jesus' life all the way to exaltation), Jesus is now the "Lord of the Spirit" (2 Cor. 3:18) - the One who sends the Spirit to his church to reproduce the "human holiness" of which he (Jesus) is the pattern.

This moves into the next two chapters, which focus on "The Gift of the Spirit" and "Pentecost Today?", exploring the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost and its significance in redemptive history and for believers today. "The Spirit of Order" (chapter five) discusses the ordo salutis (order of salvation) and how the Spirit applies the redemptive work of Christ to the individual believer. This is an excellent chapter which focuses on union with Christ as the central motif for understanding how the Spirit applies salvation in our lives.
... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Paul
Format:Paperback
Ferguson provides a refreshing study of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. His approach is neither topical nor controversial, but rather a biblical-theological development of the Spirit as He is revealed in Scripture. Unlike so many speculative studies of the Holy Spirit, this book evidences a balanced exegetical approach. Highly recommended.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Unduly Recondite - very difficult to follow that is... February 8, 2011
Format:Paperback
I found this book to be very difficult to follow. Perhaps this is because it is as the Preface states, the book was written for students in academia. I would suggest that for those who are newbies to theology or this issue, that they might consider starting with say ... another book (e.g. see Graham Cole) and then move on to this book later.

Ok. That said... some comments about what you can find discussed in the book.

The book starts off with two prefaces. One by Gerald Bray and another by Ferguson itself. Then what follows are 11 chapters.

In chapter 1, we find mostly a discussion of Pneumatology (doctrine of the Holy Spirit(HSP)) as found in the the Old Testament(OT). A discussion of some Greek and Hebrew terms such as ruach and pneuma is given. Ferguson suggests interestingly enough that of the various possible meanings that can be suggested for the terms, the most dominant one is Scripture is that of power. The OT emphasis is "overwhelming energy."

Chapter 2 is concerned with tracing the ministry of the HSP in the life of Jesus Christ. One question that Ferguson raises and answers is: Why was there any need for a coming of the HSP at Jesus' baptism if Jesus was born full of the Spirit? Good question. Read it to find out what Ferguson says.

Chapter 3 concerns the pouring out of the Spirit on Pentecost. Ferguson also points out that there are four aspects to the HSP's ministry that help us to understand who He is and what He does. Also included in this chapter, is a discussion of Filioque.

Chapter 4 has to do with the continuities and discontinuities associated with Pentecost. Can Pentecost or Pentecost-like events be repeated today? Ferguson's answer is no.
... Read more ›
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars Change not God's Words
I would like to take the time to say the Title Holy Ghost is not old, cold, vague, mysterious, or insubstantiality. John the Baptist disciples replied. Read more
Published 13 days ago by InHisName
3.0 out of 5 stars A Purely Academic Volume
The "Series Preface" makes it a point to say that this volume has attempted to be accessible the the reader at all levels but this is simply not the case. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Justin
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
This resource is useful for my PhD research on tghe Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts, their theology, nature, number, uses and abuses..
Published 3 months ago by Michael W.McCullough, Jr.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Work for the Layperson or Pastor
Ferguson's volume is especially helpful for the new Christian, layperson, or seasoned pastor. He wades through the current issues dominating the discussion of the Holy Spirit with... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Andrew Klausen
5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Spirit
Book was received within the specified time and its condition was as advertised.

Thanks
Published on July 18, 2010 by Jeffrey Fullam
3.0 out of 5 stars Holy Spirit
This book proved to be over my head. Were I an advanced Seminary student, I might have been more able to understand the text. Read more
Published on February 18, 2010 by Gerry
5.0 out of 5 stars Who is the Holy Spirit
Who is the Holy Spirit? What is his role in the Christian's life right now? These are some of the questions being asked by normal Christians today. Read more
Published on December 4, 2009 by Daniel Albright
1.0 out of 5 stars Weighty and over my head
I'm 24 and am no stranger to Christian Theology. This book seemed very promising as I wanted to learn more about the 3 person in the Trinity but this book was really difficult to... Read more
Published on February 17, 2009 by B. Coates
5.0 out of 5 stars Solid & Scholarly Representation
'Which, if any, elements of Pentecost are once-for-all, and which elements can be viewed as repeatable and even normative in the experience of the church? Read more
Published on September 26, 2007 by Jacques Schoeman
4.0 out of 5 stars Mostly Helpful
In general, I enjoyed reading this book. Dr. Ferguson is eager to show the solidarity of the Trinity in creation and redemption. Read more
Published on September 12, 2005 by Timothy McNinch
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews




What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 



So You'd Like to...



Look for Similar Items by Category