E.W. Kenyon’s influence of the use of the Scriptures in the Word of Faith Movement through the teachings of Kenneth E Hagin and Kenneth Copeland: A Dogmatic study A.G. Butterworth MMin Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Dogmatology at the Potchefstroom Campus of the North-West University Supervisor: Prof. C.F.C. Coetzee November 2012 1 Abstract This study deals with how E.W. Kenyon’s use of the Bible was the foundation used by Kenneth Hagin and Kenneth Copeland to build the Word of Faith Movement. Kenyon could be considered the grandfather of this movement, while Hagin can be regarded as the father and Copeland, the one on whose shoulders Hagin’s mantle has fallen since his death. It includes brief biographies of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland and their ministries. It looks into how influential Kenyon’s use of the Bible is in developing his doctrines, which have been copied by both Hagin and Copeland and the Word of Faith's pastors throughout the world. This study is not an exhaustive examination of Kenyon’s doctrines but enough is studied to show he does not conform to traditional reformed theological hermeneutics. Kenyon’s writings date back to the early twentieth century. Hagin’s writings are from the mid- and late twentieth century, while Copeland writes from the late twentieth century to the present day. It will be shown that Hagin and Copeland copied Kenyon’s use of the Bible almost verbatim, resulting in them promoting doctrines in the Word of Faith Movement similar to his doctrines. This study deals with Kenyon’s writings in Chapter 2, while Chapter 3 deals with Hagin’s and Copeland’s teachings. Chapter 4 compares the three’s teachings from a reformed theological perspective, using literature by fairly modern-day writers on reformed theology. Chapter 5 evaluates and concludes and offers recommendations for further study. Finally, Kenyon’s and his two followers’ teachings are summarised and evaluated. The study will also examine some of the effects these teachings have on the individual who attends Word of Faith Movement churches. Future research topics that could help in understanding the attraction these teachings have for people and the danger they pose to reformed churches today are suggested. Opsomming Hierdie studie handel oor hoe E.W. Kenyon se gebruik van die Bybel die grondslag was wat gebruik is deur Kenneth Hagin en Kenneth Copeland om die Word of Faith-beweging uit te bou. Kenyon kan beskou word as die grootvader van hierdie beweging, terwyl Hagin die vader was en Copeland die een was op wie se skouers Hagin se mantel sedert sy dood geval het. Die studie sluit kort biografieë van Kenyon, Hagin en Copeland en hul bedieninge in. Dit toon aan hoe invloedryk Kenyon se gebruik van die Bybel is in die ontwikkeling van sy leerstellings, wat deur beide Hagin en Copeland en die Word of Faith Movement se pastore reg deur die wêreld oorgeneem is. Hierdie studie is nie 'n volledige ondersoek van Kenyon se leerstellings nie, maar genoeg is bestudeer om te bewys dat sy Skrifhantering nie in ooreenstemming is met tradisionele gereformeerde hermeneutiek nie. Kenyon se geskrifte dateer terug na die vroeë twintigste eeu. Hagin se geskrifte is uit die middel- en laat twintigste eeu, terwyl Copeland skryf vanaf die einde van die twintigste eeu tot op hede. Daar word aangetoon dat Hagin en Copeland Kenyon se gebruik van die Bybel byna woordeliks in hulle bevordering van soortgelyke leerstellings in die Word of Faith-beweging oorneem. Hierdie studie handel oor Kenyon se geskrifte in Hoofstuk 2 terwyl Hoofstuk 3 Hagin en Copeland se leringe behandel. In Hoofstuk 4 word die drie se leerstellings vanuit 'n gereformeerde teologiese perspektief beoordeel deur dit te vergelyk met die standpunte van enkele erkende Gereformeerde teoloë. Hoofstuk 5 vat die studie 2 saam en Hoofstuk 6 kom tot bepaalde gevolgtrekkings en bied aanbevelings vir verdere studie. Ten slotte word Kenyon en sy volgelinge se leerstellings saamgevat en geëvalueer. Die studie sal ook ondersoek instel na sommige van die gevolge wat hierdie leerstellings het op die individu wat die Word of Faith-beweging se kerke bywoon. Daar word ook moontlike toekomstige navorsings-onderwerpe voorgestel wat kan help om die aantrekkingskrag wat hierdie leerstellings vir mense inhou, en die gevaar wat hulle vir gereformeerde kerke vandag inhou, te verstaan. key terms Word of Faith Movement (WFM), Neo Pentecostalism, Bibliology, Proof Texting, Faith Confessions and Dispensationalism acknowledgements First and foremost, without the Lord’s grace and the long-suffering support and patience of my wife, Pamela, I could never have completed this dissertation. I thank them above all. Secondly, I wish thank Prof. Fika van Rensburg and Antointte Moerdyk, who encouraged me to continue to complete this study. I also thank Prof. Callie Coetzee, who patiently guided me through to the end. Thirdly, I wish to thank my colleague Rev. Peter Thomas, who unswervingly supported me through this process, as well as the leadership of my church. Finally, I wish to thank my family and church members who were all so considerate during the process of writing this dissertation. 26 October 2012 3 Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................ii Key terms ................................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................iii 1 CHAPTER 1 .....................................................................................................................1 1.1 Background ....................................................................................................................1 1.2 Problem Statement ........................................................................................................4 1.3 Central Research Statement .........................................................................................5 1.3.1 How does E.W. Kenyon use the Scripture? ................................................................5 1.3.2 Do Kenneth E. Hagin and Kenneth Copeland, founders of the WFM, use the Scriptures in the same way as E.W. Kenyon? ............................................................5 1.3.3 How Reformed theologians use the Scriptures? .........................................................5 1.3.4 From a reformed theological perspective, how should one evaluate the use of Scriptures by E.W. Kenyon, Kenneth E. Hagin and Kenneth Copeland? ...................5 1.4 Aims and objectives .......................................................................................................5 1.4.1 Aims ............................................................................................................................5 1.4.2 Objectives ....................................................................................................................5 1.5 Central Research Argument ..........................................................................................5 1.6 Methodology ..................................................................................................................6 1.6.1 A literature study of E.W. Kenyon’s written material ..................................................6 1.6.2 A Literature study of Kenneth Hagin’s and Kenneth Copeland’s written material ......6 1.6.3 The demonstration of Scripture usage from a reformed theological tradition .............6 1.6.4 The evaluation of E.W. Kenyon’s Kenneth Hagin’s and Kenneth Copeland’s writings from a reformed theological tradition and their effect on the church and will use works from the previous three chapters along with other sources mentioned in the Problem Statement ....................................................................................................................6 1.7 Classification of Chapters ..............................................................................................6 2 CHAPTER 2 2.1 A short History of the Word of Faith Movement .............................................................7 2.2 Kenyon: A Biographical Portrait (1867-1948) ...............................................................9 2.3 Kenyon’s Teachings ....................................................................................................13 4 2.3.1 Angelology .................................................................................................................16 2.3.2 Anthropology .............................................................................................................18 2.3.3 Bible ..........................................................................................................................22 2.3.4 Christology ................................................................................................................24 2.3.5 Ecclesiology ..............................................................................................................28 2.3.6 Faith ..........................................................................................................................34 2.3.7 Eschatology...............................................................................................................34 2.3.8 Hamartiology..............................................................................................................38