ABSTRACT

Research on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity has increased dramatically in recent decades, and a diverse array of disciplines have begun to address a range of elements of these movements. Yet, there exists very little understanding of Pentecostal theology, and it is not uncommon to encounter stereotypes and misperceptions.

Addressing this gap in current research, The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is an exceptional reference source to the key topics, challenges, and debates in this growing field of study and is the first collection of its kind to offer a comprehensive presentation and critical discussion of this subject. Comprising over forty chapters written by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into five parts:

  • Contextualizing Pentecostal Theology
  • Sources
  • Theological Method
  • Doctrines and Practices
  • Conversations and Challenges.

These sections take the reader through a comprehensive introduction to what Pentecostals believe and how they practice their faith. Looking at issues such as the core teachings of Pentecostalism concerning Spirit baptism, divine healing, or eschatology; unique practices, such as spiritual warfare and worship; and less discussed issues, such as social justice and gender, each chapter builds towards a nuanced and global picture of the theology of the Pentecostal movement.

The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is essential reading for students and researchers in Pentecostal Studies, World Christianity, and Theology as well as scholars working in contemporary Religious Studies.

part I|46 pages

Contextualizing Pentecostal theology

chapter 1|11 pages

Systematic Pentecostal Theology

A typology

chapter 2|11 pages

Pentecostal Theology as a Global Challenge

Contextual theological constructions

chapter 3|11 pages

Pentecostal Theology as Spirituality

Explorations in theological method

chapter 4|11 pages

Pentecostal Theology as Story

Participating in God’s mission

part II|76 pages

Sources

chapter 5|10 pages

Revelation

The light and fire of Pentecost

chapter 6|10 pages

Scripture

Finding one’s place in God’s story

chapter 7|11 pages

Reason

Widening the sources of Pentecostal theology

chapter 8|11 pages

Experience

The mediated immediacy of encounter with the Spirit

chapter 9|11 pages

Tradition

Retrieving and updating Pentecostal core beliefs

chapter 10|11 pages

Culture

Disruption, accommodation, and pneumatological resignification

chapter 11|10 pages

Worship

Embodying the encounter with God

part III|56 pages

Theological methods

chapter 12|11 pages

Biblical hermeneutics

Reading Scripture with the Spirit in community

chapter 13|12 pages

Theological hermeneutics

Understanding the world in the encounter with God

chapter 14|11 pages

The pneumatological imagination

The logic of Pentecostal theology

chapter 15|10 pages

Practical theology

Attending to pneumatologically‑driven praxis

chapter 16|10 pages

The full gospel

A liturgical hermeneutic of Pentecost

part IV|150 pages

Doctrines and practices

chapter 17|10 pages

Trinitarian theology

The Spirit and the fellowship of the triune God

chapter 18|11 pages

Oneness theology

Restoring the apostolic faith

chapter 19|10 pages

Pneumatology

Eschatological intensification of the personal presence of God

chapter 20|10 pages

Christology

Jesus and others; Jesus and God

chapter 21|11 pages

Salvation

Participating in the story where earth and heaven meet

chapter 22|10 pages

Sanctification

Becoming an icon of the Spirit through holy love

chapter 23|10 pages

Spirit baptism

Initiation in the fullness of God’s promises

chapter 24|11 pages

Divine healing

Sacramental signs of salvation

chapter 25|11 pages

Eschatology

The always present hope

chapter 26|11 pages

Missiology

Evangelization, holistic ministry, and social justice

chapter 27|11 pages

Ecclesiology

Spirit-shaped fellowships of gospel mission

chapter 28|10 pages

Spiritual gifts

Manifestations of the kingdom of God

chapter 29|10 pages

Sacraments

Rites in the Spirit for the presence of Christ

chapter 30|12 pages

Spiritual warfare

The cosmic conflict between good and evil

part V|132 pages

Conversations and challenges

chapter 31|11 pages

Arts and aesthetics

The pursuit of beauty through the outpour of the Spirit

chapter 32|11 pages

Theology of disability

The Spirit and disabled empowerment

chapter 33|10 pages

Ecotheology

A people of the Spirit for earth

chapter 34|11 pages

Theology of economics

Pentecost and the household of the Spirit

chapter 35|11 pages

Ecumenical Theology

A restorationist embrace of the unity of the Spirit

chapter 36|10 pages

Feminist Theologies

Deconstructing the patriarchal gender paradigm

chapter 37|11 pages

Philosophy

Inspiration for living relationally and thinking rigorously

chapter 38|11 pages

Prosperity theology

Material abundance and praxis of transformation

chapter 39|11 pages

Race

Reordering the world on the principle of grace

chapter 40|11 pages

Social justice

Theology as social transformation

chapter 41|11 pages

Theology of Religions

Divine hospitality and spiritual discernment

chapter 42|11 pages

Theology and science

Disciplines at the limits of Pentecostal discourse