The ‘Spiritual Death’ of Jesus Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies Edited by Andrew Davies, Mattersey Hall Graduate School William Kay, Bangor University Advisory Board Allan Anderson, University of Birmingham Mark Cartledge, University of Birmingham Jacqueline Grey, Southern Cross College, Sydney Byron D Klaus, Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, MO Wonsuk Ma, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies Cecil M Robeck, Jr, Fuller Theological Seminary Calvin Smith, Midlands Bible College VOLUME 1 The ‘Spiritual Death’ of Jesus A Pentecostal Investigation by William P. Atkinson LEIDEN • BOSTON 2009 This book is printed on acid-free paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Atkinson, William, 1961- The "spiritual death" of Jesus : a Pentecostal investigation / by William P. Atkinson. p. cm. -- (Global Pentecostal and charismatic studies ; v. 1) Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and indexes. ISBN 978-90-04-17199-2 (hardback : alk. paper) 1. Jesus Christ--Crucifixion. 2. Kenyon, Essek William, 1867-1948. 3. Faith movement (Hagin) 4. Pentecostalism. I. Title. II. Series. BT450.A84 2009 232.96’3--dc22 2008051634 ISSN 1876-2247 ISBN 978 90 04 17199 2 Copyright 2009 by Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. Koninklijke Brill NV incorporates the imprints Brill, Hotei Publishing, IDC Publishers, Martinus Nijhoff Publishers and VSP. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Authorization to photocopy items for internal or personal use is granted by Koninklijke Brill NV provided that the appropriate fees are paid directly to The Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Suite 910, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. Fees are subject to change. CONTENTS Preface ................................................................. Acknowledgements .................................................... Listofabbreviations................................................... Introduction............................................................ 1 . TheJDSdebateanddebaters...................................... 5 . Introduction...................................................... 5 . TheWord-faithmovement ...................................... 7 . ThreeforemostJDSteachers.................................... 14 . JDSteachingintheologicalcontext............................. 25 . Categories of participant in the JDS debate .................... 39 .Growingopposition.............................................. 43 . Dissentingvoices................................................. 52 .Mediatingpositions .............................................. 56 . Chapterconclusions ............................................. 59 . Scope,criteriaandmethods........................................ 63 . Introduction...................................................... 63 . Scopeandlimits.................................................. 63 . Criteria ........................................................... 65 . Conformitywiththebiblicalwitness............................ 67 . Kenyon’scontemporaryinfluences.............................. 77 . Reference to Christian theology ................................. 82 . Chapterconclusions ............................................. 95 . Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ and its necessity ............................ 99 . Introduction...................................................... 99 . Biblical references to ‘spiritual death’ ........................... 100 . Historical references to ‘spiritual death’ ........................ 111 . JDS teaching’s terminology in modern Christian theology .... 125 . The necessity of Christ’s ‘spiritual death’ ....................... 127 .Chapterconclusions ............................................. 141 . Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as separation from God .................... 147 . Introduction...................................................... 147 . The JDS articulation of Jesus’ separation from God ........... 147 . CriticismsoftheJDSposition................................... 157 . The possibility of a separation................................... 160 . The timing of a possible separation ............................. 172 . The nature of a possible separation ............................. 175 . Chapterconclusions ............................................. 183 . Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as partaking of a sinful, satanic nature .... 187 . Introduction...................................................... 187 . Satan.............................................................. 188 . Partakingofa sinful,satanicnature............................. 190 . Theresponsesofthecritics...................................... 195 . Kenyon’s, Hagin’s and Copeland’s sources ..................... 199 . History of the tradition .......................................... 208 . Chapterconclusions ............................................. 213 . Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as becoming Satan’s prey .................. 217 . Introduction...................................................... 217 . The views of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland ................... 218 . Responsesofthecritics .......................................... 226 . JDSsources....................................................... 231 . Alternativeproposals............................................. 240 .Chapterconclusions ............................................. 248 . Conclusions ......................................................... 251 . Introduction...................................................... 251 . Summaries ....................................................... 252 . Furtherresponsestothecritics.................................. 256 . Sundryobservations ............................................. 258 . Overall appraisal of JDS teaching............................... 261 Bibliography ........................................................... 263 Index of references .................................................... 281 Indexofauthors ....................................................... 285 Indexofsubjects....................................................... 291 PREFACE I am a minister in the Elim Pentecostal Church and for ten years was part of the ministry team at Kensington Temple, an Elim church in London. There I heard visiting speakers including Benny Hinn, Ray McCauley, Morris Cerullo, John Avanzini, and others who were iden- tified with the Word-faith movement. There too I first heard preached, by a visitor, the belief that Jesus ‘died spiritually’ (JDS). While at Kens- ington Temple I was also introduced for the first time to the critique of the Word-faith movement offered by Dan McConnell. Although I was impressed by his research, I was convinced neither by his association of E.W. Kenyon with New Thought, nor by his seemingly reductionist counter-arguments to JDS teaching. My interest in JDS teaching has remained with me over the years. The opportunity arose to research the doctrine at doctoral level, and I engaged in this research under the supervision of the University of Edinburgh, from to . I thoroughly enjoyed the research, and learned a great amount. The doctoral thesis title was, “A Theological Appraisal of the Doctrine that Jesus ‘Died Spiritually’, as Taught by Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland.” This book is a slightly edited version of that thesis. Recognising that the Word-faith movement has much in common with Pentecostals, I felt potentially well placed to conduct this research. I considered it from my own Pentecostal perspective, though with a greater interest in historical theology than would perhaps be common in my denomination. I expected to find more of value in JDS teach- ing than its critics allow, and so was surprised to discover the extent to which I disagree with JDS teaching. It is of some value in preventing the ‘sanitising’ of the horrors of Christ’s crucifixion that can so eas- ily bedevil Christianity. However, one does not need JDS teaching for protection against this sanitisation. More significant than its value for Pentecostals are its difficulties. In particular, it misrepresents the incar- nation, the part Satan played in the crucifixion, and the time between cross and resurrection. Thereby, it does not furnish Pentecostals with a helpful contribution to understanding how Christ achieved salvation for humanity. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am most grateful for the contributions* of others who helped me in the development of this book. My doctoral supervisors in the University of Edinburgh School of Divinity, Professors David Fergusson and Larry Hurtado, made innumerable suggestions, large and small, all of which are much appreciated. Kenyon researchers Geir Lie, Jim McIntyre and Dale Simmons answered my various questions with kindness and patience. David Woodfield supplied a number of important Word-faith sources, and Robert Forrest brought certain early church sources to my attention. I also want to thank members of the research community at Regents Theological College, Nantwich. Various people there made helpful suggestions in response to papers that I gave, including particularly Keith Warrington, Neil Hudson, Julian Ward, and Martin Clay. Once the PhD was gained, Robert Graves helped me invaluably in the task of finding a willing publisher. I am most grateful. Brill is of course that publisher. My thanks go to Ingeborg