Pentecostal Theology: A Theology of Encounter [Paperback]

Keith Warrington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 7, 2008

Pentecostals (traditionally) do not think theologically so much as do it practically. This book will present Pentecostal theology as well as the particular style of Pentecostal thinking and praxis that makes it different. Pentecostalism is not just distinctive because of its belief base but also because of the worldview it owns. The latter is based on a certainty that a religion that does not work is not worth much. Consequently, they look for expressions of life and vitality in their faith. These dominate, rather than an expression of the cerebral, though this is changing. Nevertheless, the sense of the immediate, the God of the now not the distant past, underlie how they do theology. Pentecostal theology tends to be seen through the eyes of people, not theologians; through the community, not traditions (though they have them); through their faith and worship, not ancient creeds. It is a theology of the dynamic, seen through the lens of experience. It is a functional theology that exists to operate; to incorporate an experiential dimension. Pentecostal theology does not operate as other theologies which often only detail a list of beliefs; it does this but also and (more) importantly, it explores them in the context of praxis. Thus, this volume incorporates praxis as part of the enquiry relating to theology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

UK: Prof Max Turner; Prof Andrew Walker. USA: Dr Siegfried Schatzmann

"Here, at last, is a scholarly and comprehensive account of Pentecostal theology from one of this tradition's leading scholars. It is written in an engaging style and presented in a balanced and non-polemical manner. Warrington has achieved what has not been done before: with lucid clarity and a willingness to engage with differing perspectives, combined with a skilled use of biblical exegesis and abundant secondary literature he has written a volume that will stand as a benchmark for years to come. Pentecostals and Charismatics of every persuasion and those from older Christian traditions will find this an eminently readable text." - Allan Anderson, Professor of Global Pentecostal Studies, University of Birmingham, UK (Allan Anderson )

"This is a comprehensive study of Pentecostal Theology, written in a concise and compact style. The study deals with most of the major elements of Pentecostal beliefs and praxes that are considered important as well as those considered controversial within their global setting. The beauty of the book lies in the author's ability to engage with contemporary Pentecostal scholars across the globe. The thrust of the study is on the formation and ongoing formulation of Pentecostal theology. It is a call to the Pentecostal community to rethink its received theology against the background of changing Christian theology in an ever changing world. As a gifted teacher, Keith makes theology, which some people find deadly boring and hard, an interesting subject to read. This book will prove to be a useful vehicle for providing an understanding of what Pentecostal theology is about and will also make a valuable contribution to the on going discourse on Pentecostal theology." - Opoku Onyinah, Rector, Pentecost University College, Accra, Ghana (Opoku Onyinah )

Mention --Book News, February 2009

"I heartily recommend this title for anyone who has a desire to explore Pentecostalism further, undergraduate or postgraduate alike, and I could foresee this text very likely used as an introductory text in a course related to global theological movements." - Bradford McCall, Theological Book Review, Vol 21 No 1, 2009

(B. McCall Theological Book Review )

'Warrington's book offers to every student of Pentecostalism both a general introduction to Pentecostal theology... as well as an enormous resource in bibliographical footnotes, inviting the reader to continue on the road of discovery. Therefore, this book will definitely serve as an important resource on Pentecostal theology for both the professional and the academic for years to come.'

(Ecclesiology )

"Here, at last, is a scholarly and comprehensive account of Pentecostal theology from one of this tradition’s leading scholars. It is written in an engaging style and presented in a balanced and non-polemical manner. Warrington has achieved what has not been done before: with lucid clarity and a willingness to engage with differing perspectives, combined with a skilled use of biblical exegesis and abundant secondary literature he has written a volume that will stand as a benchmark for years to come. Pentecostals and Charismatics of every persuasion and those from older Christian traditions will find this an eminently readable text." - Allan Anderson, Professor of Global Pentecostal Studies, University of Birmingham, UK (, )

"This is a comprehensive study of Pentecostal Theology, written in a concise and compact style.  The study deals with most of the major elements of Pentecostal beliefs and praxes that are considered important as well as those considered controversial within their global setting.  The beauty of the book lies in the author’s ability to engage with contemporary Pentecostal scholars across the globe.   The thrust of the study is on the formation and ongoing formulation of Pentecostal theology.  It is a call to the Pentecostal community to rethink its received theology against the background of changing Christian theology in an ever changing world.  As a gifted teacher, Keith makes theology, which some people find deadly boring and hard, an interesting subject to read.  This book will prove to be a useful vehicle for providing an understanding of what Pentecostal theology is about and will also make a valuable contribution to the on going discourse on Pentecostal theology." - Opoku Onyinah, Rector, Pentecost University College, Accra, Ghana (, )

Mention –Book News, February 2009

"I heartily recommend this title for anyone who has a desire to explore Pentecostalism further, undergraduate or postgraduate alike, and I could foresee this text very likely used as an introductory text in a course related to global theological movements." - Bradford McCall, Theological Book Review, Vol 21 No 1, 2009

(, Theological Book Review )

'Warrington’s book offers to every student of Pentecostalism both a general introduction to Pentecostal theology… as well as an enormous resource in bibliographical footnotes, inviting the reader to continue on the road of discovery. Therefore, this book will definitely serve as an important resource on Pentecostal theology for both the professional and the academic for years to come.’

(, )

About the Author

Keith Warrington is Vice-Principal and Director of Doctoral Studies, Regents Theological College, England

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: T&T Clark Int'l (October 7, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0567044521
• ISBN-13: 978-0567044525
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #708,442 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The complexities of Pentecostalism made all too simple, May 19, 2010

By 

Donald A. Mclellan (Brisbane, Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Pentecostal Theology: A Theology of Encounter (Paperback)

Keith Warrington's attempt to homogenise Pentecostalism's many theological viewpoints is his noble but quite impossible quest. The movement has too many subsets to make it remotely achievable. But we should thank him for trying.
Warrington's book is a compendium of Pentecostal views on most but not all subsets of systematic theology, with particular attention paid to those for which Pentecostalism is famous (e.g. healing, exorcism, the Holy Spirit and his gifts) and with nearly one third of its pages on how Pentecostals understand God. We may thereby observe the incredible and sometimes rather disconcerting diversity of thought within the movement, while picking out some of its consistent emphases and affirmations and noting the maturation of thought therein. This is the book's major contribution, which is why it may be a worthwhile addition to the libraries of pastors and theological institutions.
However, Warrington does not engage in critical analysis of most of the points of view he canvasses. Indeed, some heterodoxies such as the Oneness Pentecostal view of God are reported quite uncritically. There are places within this work where he makes some useful proposals, but they do not appear to be located in anything but the broadest systematic scheme, they are asserted rather than argued, and there is little attempt to join them into a coherent whole. Mostly we are left either with outlines of ideas that Warrington has observed, or proposals concerning what Pentecostals believe based on his attempt to produce a consensus from the literature.
The weaknesses of some areas of Pentecostal theology are also highlighted, though probably unintentionally. For example, only now are Pentecostal theologians beginning to give serious consideration to ecclesiology. Warrington notes, again uncritically, that many of the myriad systems of governance within Pentecostal denominations have developed for pragmatic reasons (p. 136). Warrington's reports on the efforts of a few Pentecostal scholars to develop a unique ecclesiology merely highlight how far they have still to go.
Warrington's praxis arises from the presupposition that the God-encounter is the root stock of Pentecostal theology, hence the book's subtitle and the direction it takes. The assertion that "Pentecostals believe that the main purpose of the Bible is to help them develop their experience of and relationship with God..." (p. 188) typifies Warrington's outlook. However this immediately raises the question of where authority really lies. Warrington does not provide clear answers here, and the reader may be left with the impression that the subjective experience of a God-encounter is all it takes to get the right answers out of the Bible.
To this reviewer, Warrington's attempt to ground theology on a platform as nebulous as subjective experience makes the whole work less than convincing. However, this is probably the point of greatest weakness in most Pentecostal theologies. Subjective experience, being by definition individualistic, and even when considered in the light of the Bible, is unlikely ever to provide a solid platform for systematic theology.