The Lord Is the Spirit

Although the doctrine and work of the Holy Spirit is no longer being ignored in theology (as was often the case in centuries past), the authority of the Spirit remains essentially undefined. The need for such a definition, however, is urgent. Some dangerous trends in the contemporary understanding of the Spirit have developed (trends that can only be exposed through careful exegesis of Scripture and theological clarification). Indeed, some contemporary models often leave us with a nonauthoritative Spirit predisposed toward universalism, experientialism, or panentheism.This work will attempt to show that the nature of the Holy Spirit's authority can be clearly defined through biblical and systematic theology. When we investigate the Spirit's place within the pattern of divine authority, as specified in Scripture, we discover that the Holy Spirit indeed possesses a unique authority as divine Person, Christ's Executor, Teacher, and Governor of the Church. Such a work will be helpful for both the theologian and the pastor. First, definitions of the Spirit's authority will be developed through historical, exegetical, and theological analysis. Then these definitions will be applied to specific church practices, including hermeneutics, church structure and guidance, and Christian spirituality. A response will also be given to those practical theologies that are subtly diminishing the Spirit's authority in relation to the contemporary church. Amidst the spate of books on the Holy Spirit and the church, Studebaker's stands out for its emphasis not on power but authority. A valuable discussion that expands on what Bernard Ramm called the 'pattern of authority' while preserving the integrity of the Spirit's relationship to Jesus Christ and the Scriptures.--Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolToo often evangelical theologies of the Holy Spirit tend toward either amorphous mystification or insipid rationalism, both of which minimize the real-life import of the role of the Spirit in Christian communities and individual lives. Professor Studebaker addresses these misconceptions by resituating the notion of the Spirit's authority within a robust Trinitarian theology. Studebaker builds on the work of Bernard Ramm to show that the functional authority of the Spirit must be grounded both in his divine nature and in his personal agency. The result is a compelling dialogue with contemporary pneumatology which is guided by biblical exegesis and framed by historical theology. --Kyle Roberts, Bethel Seminary, St PaulJohn A. Studebaker is Adjunct Professor at Cornerstone University and Spring Arbor University and Executive Director of Bridge Ministries in Michigan.