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The Early Pentecostals' Experience of Divine

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CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by Middlesex University Research Repository THE EARLY PENTECOSTALS’ EXPERIENCE OF DIVINE GUIDANCE IN MISSION IN THE LIGHT OF LUKE-ACTS A Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy By Thomas Samuel Middlesex University Supervised at London School of Theology January 2015 Abstract of the Thesis Name of the Student: Thomas Samuel Title of the thesis: The Early Pentecostals’ Experience of Divine Guidance in Mission in the Light of Luke-Acts Degree: M. Phil University: Middlesex University The present study investigates the early Pentecostals’ experience of divine guidance in mission in the light of Luke-Acts. On the heels of Pentecostal revivals in North America and England at the beginning of the twentieth century, experience of divine guidance that led them to ‘home and foreign mission’ was a significant element that distinguished the movement along with their emphasis on baptism in the Spirit. While the previous studies focused on the baptism in the Spirit, a comprehensive analysis of their experience of divine guidance is not sufficiently explored. The early Pentecostal literature: newsletters, magazines and journals, abound with testimonies of direct experience of the Spirit and the risen Lord guiding them to diverse geographical destinations and people groups through speaking in tongues, visions, voices, prophecies, signs and wonders. They constantly corroborated these experiences with the Lukan narrative, believing that the Pentecostal revival and its prolific growth were guided by God as the early apostles were guided. They believed that the apostles’ religious experiences during the establishment of the early Church that Luke narrated in his twin volumes are restored in the twentieth century Pentecostal revival. The study aims to critically evaluate the early Pentecostals’ use of the Lukan guidance passages as normative model for their experience of divine guidance. While the previous Lukan scholarship acknowledged Luke’s emphasis on divine intervention and guidance at strategic points of the narrative its continuation to the present as a normative model for the present mission have not arrived at a consensus. Besides the early Pentecostals’ emphasis on the baptism of the Spirit as empowerment for mission they believed that the Spirit guided them through speech, prophecy and visions. Moreover, they ascribed the leadership of the movement to the risen Lord which led to them to undermine ecclesiastical structures, and organizing in the early decades. While the early Pentecostals juxtaposed similar roles to the Spirit and the risen Lord in guiding their mission based on the Lukan narrative, they rarely strived to articulate the relationship between the Spirit and the risen Lord in the post-Pentecost era of the Church. Despite the early Pentecostals’ allegiance to the Lukan narrative, the centrality of God in the Lukan narrative is relatively absent in their use of Luke-Acts. Thus the study will critically evaluate their reading of the Lukan narrative and its application into their mission praxis. The study will contributes to the growing discussion on Pentecostal theology and hermeneutics. ii Acknowledgement All glory and honor belong to the Lord God almighty, the supreme guide who empowered and guided me in this study. I experienced the Lord’s providence and guidance as I ventured in the research on divine guidance in various ways. This study would not have been possible without the genuine support and encouragement of several people. Herewith I would like to express my gratitude to all of them. First of all I sincerely thank Dr. William Atkinson, my supervisor for his valuable guidance during the course of the study. His diligent comments, careful observations, positive and constructive criticisms, and useful suggestions immensely contributed to the study. I am grateful to Dr. Max Turner, the Director of the Study, for his contribution to this task. His insightful opinion and genuine criticisms stretched me farther in my articulation and research. Dr. Jules Gomes who was in the faculty team of LST encouraged me during the initial stage of the admission process to LST. I am thankful for his encouragement. I am grateful to IPC Theological Seminary family, especially its principal, Rev. Abey Peter and the Board of Directors who granted me a long study leave and paid a part of my fees. I am greatly indebted to my brother-in-law, Dr. Finny Mathew. He travelled the ‘extra mile’ with me in completing this task in various ways. He proofread all manuscripts from the beginning of the study, and provided financial aid at every crucial juncture as we lived in a foreign nation. I express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Iris Devadason for proof reading my final draft in a short span of time. Her suggestions helped me improve the language and style of my writing. I am deeply thankful to my loving parents for their contribution in my life. My father, Pastor K. T. Thomas who imparted his passion for missions to me from a very early age, constantly supported me during the course of the study. My mother late Mrs. Mariyamma Thomas longed to see the completion of my task but she went to be with the Lord during the studies. My in-laws, Mr. Mathew Pappachan and Mrs. Lissiamma Pappachan stood with me in all the ups and downs during the course of the study. Their love, encouragement, prayers and support during the studies were invaluable. I would not have completed the study without my beloved wife Praisy’s willingness to support me in taking on a demanding task, especially in a foreign nation with very limited financial support. In all the turbulent situations, she stood unshaken and tirelessly worked hard to support our family as I focused on my studies. My children, Barnabas, Michelle and Christopher cooperated well during my academic endeavor with understanding beyond their age. iii List of Abbreviations AF The Apostolic Faith (Pentecostal periodical published from Portland, and Los Angeles, USA) AG The Assemblies of God Church AM The Apostolic Messenger (Pentecostal periodical published from Winnipeg, Canada) ANE Ancient Near Eastern BM The Bridegroom’s Messenger (Pentecostal periodical published from Atlanta) BBH Baker Book House CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CoG Evangel Church of God Evangel (Pentecostal periodical published from Atlanta, USA) CJPCR Cyber Journal for Pentecostal Charismatic Research CUP Cambridge University Press Confi. Confidence: A Pentecostal Paper for Great Britain (Published from Sunderland, UK) EJPM Encounter Journal for Pentecostal Ministry EPUG Editrice Pontificia Universita Gregoriana EQ Evangelical Quarterly GPH Gospel Publishing House HTR Harvard Theological Review HUP Harvard University Press Int. Interpretation IUP Indiana University Press IBMR International Bulletin of Missionary Research JEPTA Journal of the European Pentecostal Theological Association JPT Journal of Pentecostal Theology JSNT Journal for the Study of the New Testament JSSR Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion JSTOR Journal Store NovT Novum Testamentum NTS New Testament Studies NIDPCM The New International Dictionary of Pentecostal and Charismatic Movements SAP Sheffield Academic Press SUP Sheffield University Press TDNT Theological Dictionary of the New Testament YUP Yale University Press WBC Word Biblical Commentary WW Word and the World iv Table of Contents Abstract of the Thesis ............................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgement .................................................................................................................iii List of Abbreviations ............................................................................................................. iv Chapter 1 ................................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Definition of Divine Guidance ................................................................................. 2 1.2. Scope and Methodology of the Study ....................................................................... 3 1.3. The Context of the Study .......................................................................................... 8 1.4. The Early Pentecostals’ use of Luke-Acts .............................................................. 10 1.5. The Early Pentecostals’ Distinct Emphasis on Divine Guidance ........................... 12 1.5.1. Origin and Organisation of Pentecostalism and Divine Guidance................... 15 1.5.2. The Early Pentecostals’ Emphasis on Divine Guidance in Mission ................ 19 1.5.3. Pentecostals’ Emphasis on Supernatural Manifestations and Divine Guidance .................................................................................................................................... 21 1.6. Arrangement of the Chapters .................................................................................. 26 Chapter 2 ............................................................................................................................... 29 Literature Review .............................................................................................................. 29 2.1. Introduction............................................................................................................
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