Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God [Paperback]

Gordon Fee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1996

"In Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God, this Pentecostal scholar has redefined the terms of the discussion about the Holy Spirit in a way that transcends today's paradigm of 'charismatic' or 'noncharismatic' orientation. His words are a strong reminder of what God, through his Holy Spirit, intends the church to be. . . . His work is an attempt to point us back to the Bible and reinvigorate our own vision of how the Spirit mobilizes the community of believers in the local church."
—Wendy Murray Zoba, Associate Editor, Christianity Today

"Gordon Fee, one of our truly master exegetes, has put steel and sinew into the words Spirit, spirit, and spiritual—words that have become flabby through subjectivizing indulgence and lack of exegetical exercise. His accurate, fresh, and passionate recovery of the place and meaning of Spirit in Paul and for us Christians is a provocative stimulus and reliable guide to the recovery of the experienced presence of God in our lives. For those of us who want to live in continuity with all that has been revealed in Jesus and given in the Spirit, this is an eminently practical book."
—Eugene H. Peterson, James Houston Professor of Spiritual Theology, Regent College

"Gordon Fee is one of the finest Bible expositors I have known. Whenever he speaks and writes, I listen, and recommend you do the same."
—Chuck Colson, Prison Fellowship Ministries

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Gordon D. Fee is Professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is the author of numerous works, including The First Epistle to the Corinthians (New International Commentary), 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (New International Biblical Commentary), and, with Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hendrickson Publishers (June 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565631706
• ISBN-13: 978-1565631700
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #577,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gordon D. Fee (PhD, University of Southern California) is professor of New Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. Gordon D. Fee es profesor emirito de Nuevo Testamento en Regent College, Vancouver, Canada, y ha escrito numerosos libros como "La lectura eficaz de la Biblia, Exegesis del Nuevo Testamento: manual para estudiantes y pastores, La primera epa­stola a los Corintios, y los publicados por la Coleccion Teologica Contemporanea: "Comentario de la Epa­stola a los Filipenses y Comentario de las Epa­stolas a 1 y 2 Timoteo y Tito. Douglas Stuart (PhD, Harvard University) is professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT DID PAUL SAY ABOUT SPIRIT-LIFE IN THE CHURCH?, January 23, 2000

By 

Gary D. Harwood - See all my reviews

This review is from: Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God (Paperback)

"Justification by faith" is not the total thrust of Paul's message, according to Fee, as it is too narrowly focused. The life of the Holy Spirit has been minimalized in the church when it should be an experienced reality. The Spirit enables us to live an ethical, holy life, not by some New Testament rule-keeping, but by "walking in the Spirit". This Spirit-life is lived in a now/not yet existence inwhich kingdom life has begun, but is still yet to be fulfilled. Fee rules out "triumphalism" inwhich the "not yet" side of eschatology is supposedly "now". Fee maintains that the charismata(gifts of the Spirit) are mentioned by Paul in a passing, matter-of-fact sort of way, as they were the common experience of the early church. Paul's "theology" is not of the armchair type as Paul's letters were written to correct problems. I urge those of the Reformed and those of the Dispensationalist stripe(not to mention Baptists) would do themselves a favor by reading this book. Fee is a Pentecostal, true, but doesn't toe the Pentecostal line on everything. He agrees with Calvin that the true saints perservere to the end! Pentecostals and Charismatics who think for themselves will find much to ponder. MAKE SURE TO READ THE APPENDIX FOR FEE'S VIEW ON THE "BAPTISM OF THE SPIRIT". Fee is a first-rate biblical scholar and one would be poorer for ignoring this book. The fact that he doesn't fit perfectly in anyone theological "box" shows his attempt to be true to his reading of the scriptures.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic, October 25, 2000

By 

www.DavidLRattigan.com (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God (Paperback)

Gordon D. Fee has done everyone a favour. This is a scaled-down version of 'God's Empowering Presence', without all the pages of Greek exegesis. Suitable reading for the lay-theologian, a good devotional read.
Particularly interesting are his comments on the flesh-Spirit theme, and he certainly deserves to be heard in this regard. He competently expounds Paul's theology of what it means to be 'in the Spirit' and 'walking in the Spirit' (though the reader will have to go to GEP for the full exegetical background)and exposes the shallowness of the prevailing evangelical view that flesh and Spirit is about the unceasing internal battle between two natures, a doctrine which can be used to cover up sin and obscure the reality of the freedom believers have in Christ.
Fee's findings make great pastoral theology, and I have found his insights invaluable, both in my own life and in teaching others. My only concern is that his emphasis on the Spirit may tend to promote a corresponding de-emphasis on Christ, who is the central figure in Paul's teaching.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing Theology, November 21, 2000

By 

Mark R. Anderson (Co Armagh United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paul, the Spirit, and the People of God (Paperback)

This is an excellent book and written by a scholar. This book deals primarily with the presence of the Holy Spirit in the individual life of the believer and in the church. Fee examines the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament and shows how God dwelt amongst His people and how the presence departed and was renewed again.

He describes the eschatological nature of salvation, showing that salvation has a past tense aspect, a present tense aspect and a future tense aspect. Anothre theme shown in this book is that God is still saving a people for His name describing how salvation is corporate as well as individual and cites various scriptures to back this up.

Fee's teaching influences the way one reads the New Testament. Upon reading this book one can't help but see when ope reads the New Testament, the perspective the Early Church had on Salvation and their existence.

At the back of the book there is an appendix dealing with Spirit and Water Baptism.

For a clear balanced and uncompromising book dealing with the Holy Spirit and the Early Church this book is a must read.