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Lee Roy Martin

Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Old Testament, Faculty Member

University of South Africa, Department of the Biblical and Ancient Studies, Research Fellow

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Lee Roy Martin (DTh, University of South Africa) is Professor of Old Testament and Biblical Languages and James W. Hamilton Chair of Teaching Lay Involvement at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, TN USA. He and his wife Karen served 25 years in pastoral ministry in the Church of God (Cleveland). Lee Roy is also Editor of the Journal of Pentecostal Theology (Brill), OT Editor of the Pentecostal Commentary Series (Brill), and publisher with CPT Press. He is active in SBL and in the Society for Pentecostal Studies, where he served in several official capacities, including a term as President (2013-2014).
Phone: 423-503-4631
Address: 4038 John Ct NW
Cleveland, TN 37312 USA

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University of St. Thomas, Minnesota

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Evangelische Theologische Faculteit, Leuven

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Theologisches Seminar Bienenberg, Liestal (Siwtzerland)

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Papers by Lee Roy Martin

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos journal of theology, Mar 1, 2022

Questions of Peace: Judges 6:11-32 and the Obstacles to Harmony between Gideon and His Elders

Pharos Journal of Theology

The Hebrew Bible exhibits a deep interest in the transmission of the faith tradition from one gen... more The Hebrew Bible exhibits a deep interest in the transmission of the faith tradition from one generation to the next, and the book of Judges is no exception. As Judges begins, the passing of a generation is signaled by the death of Joshua (Judges 1:1), which is soon followed by the story of Caleb, his daughter, and his nephew (1:12-15). Then, Israel’s failure to pass on the faith to the next generation is noted in Judges 2:10. Throughout the book, the narratives of the judges report the ups and downs of each succeeding generation as one judge after another rises up, brings deliverance, and eventually dies (3:7-16:31). Near the center of the book, we find the story of Gideon (6:12-8.32), whose goal is the defeat of the Midianites and the restoration of peace to his community (6:24). Gideon’s first conflict, however, is with his own father and with the other elders in his village. In response to Yahweh’s dramatic visitation, Gideon names his new altar “Yahweh is Peace,” but he soon le...

A Pentecostal Reception History of the Book of Judges

Old Testament Essays, 2022

This early Pentecostal reception history aims to locate the book of Judges within the Pentecostal... more This early Pentecostal reception history aims to locate the book of Judges within the Pentecostal context and to discover the effects of the book on the tradition's theology and practice. The study examines North American periodicals (plus Confidence, a British publication) from the beginning of 1906 (the start of the Azusa St. revival) to the end of 1925, a period that historian Walter J. Hollenweger describes as the "heart" of the Pentecostal movement. These early voices help to shape a Pentecostal approach to the book of Judges as they show how this segment of the first generation of Pentecostals struggled with issues such as paradigms of leadership, the necessity of Spirit empowerment, the role of women in ministry and the relationship between purity and power. The testimonies, sermons and articles reviewed here demonstrate that some early Pentecostals identified with the stories and characters in Judges and appropriated them to the Pentecostal context.

The Psalms and economic justice

In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi

Economic justice is a global issue; and in many areas of the world, it is a life-or-death issue. ... more Economic justice is a global issue; and in many areas of the world, it is a life-or-death issue. It is well known that the biblical prophets address economic inequities, poverty, and oppression; but the book of Psalms has not been viewed as a resource for promoting economic justice. The purpose of this article is to examine relevant texts in the Psalter that speak to a theology of economic justice. The objective is to construct an initial framework for talking about the Psalms and economics in the context of today’s church. Texts from the Psalms that mention the poor, the weak, the orphan, the widow, the alien are identified and examined exegetically and theologically. These texts are classified and outlined logically according to the following topics that emerged from the texts themselves: the poor and the covenant community, the nature of poverty in the psalter, God’s vindication of the poor, worship and justice, and the psalter’s encouragement of the poor. Results of the research...

Exuberant Praise: A Pentecostal Reading of Psalm 150

Pharos Journal of Theology

Enthusiastic praise of God has been a vital characteristic of the Pentecostal movement, and Pente... more Enthusiastic praise of God has been a vital characteristic of the Pentecostal movement, and Pentecostals have appealed to Psalm 150 as justification for their extravagant worship. Therefore, the methodology of this article views Psalm 150 through the lens of Pentecostal spirituality and offers a contemporary appropriation of this biblical text for contemporary worship. The methodology includes historical–grammatical exegesis that focuses on the rhetorical effect of the poetic structure and content. The psalm is examined in light of its theology of worship, its role as the final song in the Psalter, and its implications for Pentecostal worship. The wide variety of musical instruments named in Psalm 150 suggests that any and all kinds of instruments can be used in worship. Colonialistic restrictions on instruments should be avoided. Many contemporary Pentecostal congregations have adopted a concert-like approach, in which everyone’s attention is directed toward the stage, where profes...

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos Journal of Theology, 2022

This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. Fir... more This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. First, this psalm implies that some kinds of truth may be learned through careful observation. Psalm 19 as an invitation to seek the truth through scientific study in the form of disciplined observation, discovery, and analysis. If creation is speaking, then we must learn how to listen and hear its voice. Second, this psalm declares that truth can be learned from the Torah, the revealed word of God. Torah is a kind of knowledge that cannot be discovered; it must be revealed (Job 11:7-8; Romans 11:33). God’s self-revelation is a gift of God to humanity, discerned relationally; therefore, it cannot be discovered by searching, even if the search is enhanced by microscopes, telescopes, or microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Third, Psalm 19 invites us to discover ourselves. Moral and spiritual progress requires self-examination and transformation. Beholding God’s glory in creation and hearin...

Characteristics of Pentecostal Biblical Hermeneutics

Pentecostalism has rapidly grown across the globe; and, because of its recent ascent into promine... more Pentecostalism has rapidly grown across the globe; and, because of its recent ascent into prominence, its theology, practices, and methods should be appraised critically. This article sets forth one perspective on Pentecostal biblical hermeneutics. The author proposes that the twentieth-century Pentecostal revival created a unique interpretive matrix from which emerged fresh interpretive strategies. Pentecostals inherited the methods of the nineteenth-century holiness movement, but they added to those methods a new approach that took into account the experience of Holy Spirit baptism, which resulted in a unique combination of hermeneutical characteristics.

‘But you did not hear‘: Yahweh's Faithfulness and Israel's Foundering

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

‘I will not save you’: Yahweh's Risk and Israel's Recalcitrance

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

Index of Biblical References

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

Appendix A: Samson and Samuel

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

The Function of the Psalms in Early Pentecostalism as Reflected in the Periodical Literature from 1906-1915

The role of the exodus in the narrative of Judges

Although Israel's deliverance from Egypt is mentioned explicitly nine times in the book of Ju... more Although Israel's deliverance from Egypt is mentioned explicitly nine times in the book of Judges, the exodus motif in Judges has received little attention. The author utilizes a literary-theological approach in order to determine the significance of the exodus motif for the narrative of Judges. He concludes that the exodus tradition serves as a witness to YHWH's power and faithfulness that calls Israel to obedience and encourages their hope in YHWH's present and future attentiveness.

The use and interpretation of the Psalms in early Pentecostalism as reflected in the Apostolic Faith from 1906 through 1915

Old Testament Essays, 2017

This article examines the twenty-five references to the book of Psalms in the first ten years of ... more This article examines the twenty-five references to the book of Psalms in the first ten years of The Apostolic Faith, the periodical that was published by William J. Seymour at the Azusa St. Revival. The article demonstrates that the early Pentecostal interpretation of the psalms was neither monolithic nor simple. The early writers utilized a variety of methods and approaches, depending upon their purpose for writing. Seymour and the other contributors to his periodical used the psalms in at least five different ways: 1. as affirmations of doctrine, 2. as allegories, 3. as analogous to Pentecostal experience, 4. as affective argument, and 5. as assurance and encouragement.

Towards a biblical model of Pentecostal prophetic preaching

Verbum et Ecclesia, 2016

The growth and diversity of Pentecostalism has produced questions regarding appropriate methods f... more The growth and diversity of Pentecostalism has produced questions regarding appropriate methods for Pentecostal preaching. Increasing educational levels among Pentecostal pastors have caused many of them to move to more mainline Protestant approaches to preaching. This article, although allowing for diverse models of preaching, calls for an appreciation of Pentecostal approaches to preaching and suggests the appropriation of a biblical model of prophetic preaching. A paradigm for prophetic preaching emerges through an examination of biblical prophetic ministry as it intersects with Pentecostal practice. It is suggested that a contemporary model of Pentecostal prophetic preaching can be informed by the biblical models.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study suggests intersections between biblical studies, historical theology, homiletics, and contemporary culture. It is argued that Pentecostal preaching should be based upon biblical models, while taking int...

The Spirit (רוח) in the Book of Psalms

Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 2022

This article is a longer version of the work published earlier in PNEUMA. It examines all thirty-... more This article is a longer version of the work published earlier in PNEUMA. It examines all thirty-nine occurrences of the word רוח (‘spirit’) in the book of Psalms. The study of these texts suggests that although the Psalter presents neither an organized pneumatology nor a complete one, the Spirit is described as the agent of God’s life-giving power and as the administrator of God’s moral authority. As the agent of God’s life-giving power, the Holy Spirit creates all life and sustains all life. As administrator of God’s moral authority, the Holy Spirit saves, guides, sanctifies, and enacts judgment.

THE CHARISMATIC SPIRIT IN THE TORAH AND FORMER PROPHETS

Reading St. Luke’s Text and Theology: Pentecostal Voices – Essays in Honor of Professor Roger Stronstad, 2019

In his groundbreaking work The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, Roger Stronstad points out the O... more In his groundbreaking work The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, Roger Stronstad points out the Old Testament’s influence upon Luke’s charismatic theology. He finds parallels between the Old Testament and Luke–Acts both in terminology regarding the Spirit and in the theological role of the Spirit. The impact of Stronstad’s monograph, which remains in print today, can hardly be overstated. In this brief survey of the charismatic Spirit in the Old Testament, I will build upon Stronstad’s work and focus attention upon the Spirit empowerment as it relates to the people of God. Although the Spirit’s work in creating and sustaining the cosmos and the life that fills the cosmos is exceedingly important, this chapter will examine only those biblical texts that describe the Spirit’s charismatic work. The charismatic work of the Spirit corresponds broadly to the New Testament concept of Spirit baptism, Spirit fullness, and the accompanying charismatic gifts. Charismatic gifts include any kind of divine enablement that either adds to a person’s abilities or grants them new abilities.

The Spirit and the Old Testament

T&T Clark Handbook of Pneumatology , 2020

The OT does not express its theology in a topical and systematic fashion. Instead, its portrait o... more The OT does not express its theology in a topical and systematic fashion. Instead, its portrait of God emerges from narratives of God's activity, from prophetic oracles, and from the psalms. God creates the universe, makes promises to Abraham, delivers Israel from Egypt, makes covenant, defeats enemies, disciplines Israel, raises up kings, speaks through prophets, rules over the nations, exiles Israel, and brings them back again. Embedded within the stories, prophecies, and songs, are metaphors and adjectives that further clarify the portrait of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Yahweh is savior, king, shepherd, rock, warrior, and spouse. Yahweh is holy, eternal, good, righteous, compassionate, just, great, mighty, wise, and faithful. Although the OT describes God in some detail, there remains an element of mystery and ambiguity, and the nature of the Spirit of God is certainly one aspect of that mystery. Identifying the activity of the Holy Spirit in the OT is not always easy because even the word 'spirit' (Hebrew ַ ‫)רּוח‬ itself is sometimes ambiguous. It can signify "air in motion, a blowing, breeze, wind, nothingness, spirit, sense." 1 Hildebrandt determines that of its 389 occurrences in the OT, ַ ‫רּוח‬ refers to the divine Spirit 107 times. 3 Adding to the difficulty of identifying the Spirit in the text, the Hebrew term ‫נשׁמה‬ ('breath'), which is found 24 times in the OT, can also refer to the Spirit of God (e.g., Job 32:8; Isa 30:33). Moreover, other terms, such as the "face of God," "hand of God," 5 and "finger of God," 6 may serve as metaphors of the Spirit. The OT texts regarding the Spirit are diverse, and they defy simple categorization. The difficulty of producing an OT pneumatology has led to a number of approaches to the task, each one categorizing the biblical material in different ways. Lloyd Neve organizes the OT texts according to their date; and, therefore, produces a chronological development of the OT teaching on the Spirit. 7 Christopher Wright uses a topical approach, describing the Spirit with the adjectives "Creating," "Empowering," "Prophetic," "Anointing," and "Coming.

The Spirit in the Book of Psalms: Creating, Saving, Sanctifying, Guiding, and Judging

Pneuma, 2021

This survey of the Spirit's activity in the book of Psalms examines six prominent texts in which ... more This survey of the Spirit's activity in the book of Psalms examines six prominent texts in which the word "spirit" (‫ר‬ ‫ו‬ ‫ח‬) appears (Psalms 18, 51, 104, 139, 142, and 143). The study of these texts suggests that the Spirit is described in the Psalter as the agent of God's lifegiving power and as the administrator of God's moral authority. As the agent of God's life-giving power, the Holy Spirit creates all life and sustains all life. As administrator of God's moral authority, the Holy Spirit saves, guides, sanctifies, and enacts judgment.

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos Journal of Theology, 2022

This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. Fir... more This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. First, this psalm implies that some kinds of truth may be learned through careful observation. Psalm 19 as an invitation to seek the truth through scientific study in the form of disciplined observation, discovery, and analysis. If creation is speaking, then we must learn how to listen and hear its voice. Second, this psalm declares that truth can be learned from the Torah, the revealed word of God. Torah is a kind of knowledge that cannot be discovered; it must be revealed (Job 11:7-8; Romans 11:33). God's self-revelation is a gift of God to humanity, discerned relationally; therefore, it cannot be discovered by searching, even if the search is enhanced by microscopes, telescopes, or microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Third, Psalm 19 invites us to discover ourselves. Moral and spiritual progress requires self-examination and transformation. Beholding God's glory in creation and hearing God's word through the Torah provide the orientation that is necessary for us to face the truth about ourselves.

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos journal of theology, Mar 1, 2022

Questions of Peace: Judges 6:11-32 and the Obstacles to Harmony between Gideon and His Elders

Pharos Journal of Theology

The Hebrew Bible exhibits a deep interest in the transmission of the faith tradition from one gen... more The Hebrew Bible exhibits a deep interest in the transmission of the faith tradition from one generation to the next, and the book of Judges is no exception. As Judges begins, the passing of a generation is signaled by the death of Joshua (Judges 1:1), which is soon followed by the story of Caleb, his daughter, and his nephew (1:12-15). Then, Israel’s failure to pass on the faith to the next generation is noted in Judges 2:10. Throughout the book, the narratives of the judges report the ups and downs of each succeeding generation as one judge after another rises up, brings deliverance, and eventually dies (3:7-16:31). Near the center of the book, we find the story of Gideon (6:12-8.32), whose goal is the defeat of the Midianites and the restoration of peace to his community (6:24). Gideon’s first conflict, however, is with his own father and with the other elders in his village. In response to Yahweh’s dramatic visitation, Gideon names his new altar “Yahweh is Peace,” but he soon le...

A Pentecostal Reception History of the Book of Judges

Old Testament Essays, 2022

This early Pentecostal reception history aims to locate the book of Judges within the Pentecostal... more This early Pentecostal reception history aims to locate the book of Judges within the Pentecostal context and to discover the effects of the book on the tradition's theology and practice. The study examines North American periodicals (plus Confidence, a British publication) from the beginning of 1906 (the start of the Azusa St. revival) to the end of 1925, a period that historian Walter J. Hollenweger describes as the "heart" of the Pentecostal movement. These early voices help to shape a Pentecostal approach to the book of Judges as they show how this segment of the first generation of Pentecostals struggled with issues such as paradigms of leadership, the necessity of Spirit empowerment, the role of women in ministry and the relationship between purity and power. The testimonies, sermons and articles reviewed here demonstrate that some early Pentecostals identified with the stories and characters in Judges and appropriated them to the Pentecostal context.

The Psalms and economic justice

In die Skriflig / In Luce Verbi

Economic justice is a global issue; and in many areas of the world, it is a life-or-death issue. ... more Economic justice is a global issue; and in many areas of the world, it is a life-or-death issue. It is well known that the biblical prophets address economic inequities, poverty, and oppression; but the book of Psalms has not been viewed as a resource for promoting economic justice. The purpose of this article is to examine relevant texts in the Psalter that speak to a theology of economic justice. The objective is to construct an initial framework for talking about the Psalms and economics in the context of today’s church. Texts from the Psalms that mention the poor, the weak, the orphan, the widow, the alien are identified and examined exegetically and theologically. These texts are classified and outlined logically according to the following topics that emerged from the texts themselves: the poor and the covenant community, the nature of poverty in the psalter, God’s vindication of the poor, worship and justice, and the psalter’s encouragement of the poor. Results of the research...

Exuberant Praise: A Pentecostal Reading of Psalm 150

Pharos Journal of Theology

Enthusiastic praise of God has been a vital characteristic of the Pentecostal movement, and Pente... more Enthusiastic praise of God has been a vital characteristic of the Pentecostal movement, and Pentecostals have appealed to Psalm 150 as justification for their extravagant worship. Therefore, the methodology of this article views Psalm 150 through the lens of Pentecostal spirituality and offers a contemporary appropriation of this biblical text for contemporary worship. The methodology includes historical–grammatical exegesis that focuses on the rhetorical effect of the poetic structure and content. The psalm is examined in light of its theology of worship, its role as the final song in the Psalter, and its implications for Pentecostal worship. The wide variety of musical instruments named in Psalm 150 suggests that any and all kinds of instruments can be used in worship. Colonialistic restrictions on instruments should be avoided. Many contemporary Pentecostal congregations have adopted a concert-like approach, in which everyone’s attention is directed toward the stage, where profes...

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos Journal of Theology, 2022

This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. Fir... more This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. First, this psalm implies that some kinds of truth may be learned through careful observation. Psalm 19 as an invitation to seek the truth through scientific study in the form of disciplined observation, discovery, and analysis. If creation is speaking, then we must learn how to listen and hear its voice. Second, this psalm declares that truth can be learned from the Torah, the revealed word of God. Torah is a kind of knowledge that cannot be discovered; it must be revealed (Job 11:7-8; Romans 11:33). God’s self-revelation is a gift of God to humanity, discerned relationally; therefore, it cannot be discovered by searching, even if the search is enhanced by microscopes, telescopes, or microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Third, Psalm 19 invites us to discover ourselves. Moral and spiritual progress requires self-examination and transformation. Beholding God’s glory in creation and hearin...

Characteristics of Pentecostal Biblical Hermeneutics

Pentecostalism has rapidly grown across the globe; and, because of its recent ascent into promine... more Pentecostalism has rapidly grown across the globe; and, because of its recent ascent into prominence, its theology, practices, and methods should be appraised critically. This article sets forth one perspective on Pentecostal biblical hermeneutics. The author proposes that the twentieth-century Pentecostal revival created a unique interpretive matrix from which emerged fresh interpretive strategies. Pentecostals inherited the methods of the nineteenth-century holiness movement, but they added to those methods a new approach that took into account the experience of Holy Spirit baptism, which resulted in a unique combination of hermeneutical characteristics.

‘But you did not hear‘: Yahweh's Faithfulness and Israel's Foundering

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

‘I will not save you’: Yahweh's Risk and Israel's Recalcitrance

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

Index of Biblical References

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

Appendix A: Samson and Samuel

The Unheard Voice of God, 2008

The Function of the Psalms in Early Pentecostalism as Reflected in the Periodical Literature from 1906-1915

The role of the exodus in the narrative of Judges

Although Israel's deliverance from Egypt is mentioned explicitly nine times in the book of Ju... more Although Israel's deliverance from Egypt is mentioned explicitly nine times in the book of Judges, the exodus motif in Judges has received little attention. The author utilizes a literary-theological approach in order to determine the significance of the exodus motif for the narrative of Judges. He concludes that the exodus tradition serves as a witness to YHWH's power and faithfulness that calls Israel to obedience and encourages their hope in YHWH's present and future attentiveness.

The use and interpretation of the Psalms in early Pentecostalism as reflected in the Apostolic Faith from 1906 through 1915

Old Testament Essays, 2017

This article examines the twenty-five references to the book of Psalms in the first ten years of ... more This article examines the twenty-five references to the book of Psalms in the first ten years of The Apostolic Faith, the periodical that was published by William J. Seymour at the Azusa St. Revival. The article demonstrates that the early Pentecostal interpretation of the psalms was neither monolithic nor simple. The early writers utilized a variety of methods and approaches, depending upon their purpose for writing. Seymour and the other contributors to his periodical used the psalms in at least five different ways: 1. as affirmations of doctrine, 2. as allegories, 3. as analogous to Pentecostal experience, 4. as affective argument, and 5. as assurance and encouragement.

Towards a biblical model of Pentecostal prophetic preaching

Verbum et Ecclesia, 2016

The growth and diversity of Pentecostalism has produced questions regarding appropriate methods f... more The growth and diversity of Pentecostalism has produced questions regarding appropriate methods for Pentecostal preaching. Increasing educational levels among Pentecostal pastors have caused many of them to move to more mainline Protestant approaches to preaching. This article, although allowing for diverse models of preaching, calls for an appreciation of Pentecostal approaches to preaching and suggests the appropriation of a biblical model of prophetic preaching. A paradigm for prophetic preaching emerges through an examination of biblical prophetic ministry as it intersects with Pentecostal practice. It is suggested that a contemporary model of Pentecostal prophetic preaching can be informed by the biblical models.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This study suggests intersections between biblical studies, historical theology, homiletics, and contemporary culture. It is argued that Pentecostal preaching should be based upon biblical models, while taking int...

The Spirit (רוח) in the Book of Psalms

Journal of Pentecostal Theology, 2022

This article is a longer version of the work published earlier in PNEUMA. It examines all thirty-... more This article is a longer version of the work published earlier in PNEUMA. It examines all thirty-nine occurrences of the word רוח (‘spirit’) in the book of Psalms. The study of these texts suggests that although the Psalter presents neither an organized pneumatology nor a complete one, the Spirit is described as the agent of God’s life-giving power and as the administrator of God’s moral authority. As the agent of God’s life-giving power, the Holy Spirit creates all life and sustains all life. As administrator of God’s moral authority, the Holy Spirit saves, guides, sanctifies, and enacts judgment.

THE CHARISMATIC SPIRIT IN THE TORAH AND FORMER PROPHETS

Reading St. Luke’s Text and Theology: Pentecostal Voices – Essays in Honor of Professor Roger Stronstad, 2019

In his groundbreaking work The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, Roger Stronstad points out the O... more In his groundbreaking work The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke, Roger Stronstad points out the Old Testament’s influence upon Luke’s charismatic theology. He finds parallels between the Old Testament and Luke–Acts both in terminology regarding the Spirit and in the theological role of the Spirit. The impact of Stronstad’s monograph, which remains in print today, can hardly be overstated. In this brief survey of the charismatic Spirit in the Old Testament, I will build upon Stronstad’s work and focus attention upon the Spirit empowerment as it relates to the people of God. Although the Spirit’s work in creating and sustaining the cosmos and the life that fills the cosmos is exceedingly important, this chapter will examine only those biblical texts that describe the Spirit’s charismatic work. The charismatic work of the Spirit corresponds broadly to the New Testament concept of Spirit baptism, Spirit fullness, and the accompanying charismatic gifts. Charismatic gifts include any kind of divine enablement that either adds to a person’s abilities or grants them new abilities.

The Spirit and the Old Testament

T&T Clark Handbook of Pneumatology , 2020

The OT does not express its theology in a topical and systematic fashion. Instead, its portrait o... more The OT does not express its theology in a topical and systematic fashion. Instead, its portrait of God emerges from narratives of God's activity, from prophetic oracles, and from the psalms. God creates the universe, makes promises to Abraham, delivers Israel from Egypt, makes covenant, defeats enemies, disciplines Israel, raises up kings, speaks through prophets, rules over the nations, exiles Israel, and brings them back again. Embedded within the stories, prophecies, and songs, are metaphors and adjectives that further clarify the portrait of Yahweh, the God of Israel. Yahweh is savior, king, shepherd, rock, warrior, and spouse. Yahweh is holy, eternal, good, righteous, compassionate, just, great, mighty, wise, and faithful. Although the OT describes God in some detail, there remains an element of mystery and ambiguity, and the nature of the Spirit of God is certainly one aspect of that mystery. Identifying the activity of the Holy Spirit in the OT is not always easy because even the word 'spirit' (Hebrew ַ ‫)רּוח‬ itself is sometimes ambiguous. It can signify "air in motion, a blowing, breeze, wind, nothingness, spirit, sense." 1 Hildebrandt determines that of its 389 occurrences in the OT, ַ ‫רּוח‬ refers to the divine Spirit 107 times. 3 Adding to the difficulty of identifying the Spirit in the text, the Hebrew term ‫נשׁמה‬ ('breath'), which is found 24 times in the OT, can also refer to the Spirit of God (e.g., Job 32:8; Isa 30:33). Moreover, other terms, such as the "face of God," "hand of God," 5 and "finger of God," 6 may serve as metaphors of the Spirit. The OT texts regarding the Spirit are diverse, and they defy simple categorization. The difficulty of producing an OT pneumatology has led to a number of approaches to the task, each one categorizing the biblical material in different ways. Lloyd Neve organizes the OT texts according to their date; and, therefore, produces a chronological development of the OT teaching on the Spirit. 7 Christopher Wright uses a topical approach, describing the Spirit with the adjectives "Creating," "Empowering," "Prophetic," "Anointing," and "Coming.

The Spirit in the Book of Psalms: Creating, Saving, Sanctifying, Guiding, and Judging

Pneuma, 2021

This survey of the Spirit's activity in the book of Psalms examines six prominent texts in which ... more This survey of the Spirit's activity in the book of Psalms examines six prominent texts in which the word "spirit" (‫ר‬ ‫ו‬ ‫ח‬) appears (Psalms 18, 51, 104, 139, 142, and 143). The study of these texts suggests that the Spirit is described in the Psalter as the agent of God's lifegiving power and as the administrator of God's moral authority. As the agent of God's life-giving power, the Holy Spirit creates all life and sustains all life. As administrator of God's moral authority, the Holy Spirit saves, guides, sanctifies, and enacts judgment.

Science, Scripture, and Self: Epistemological Implications of Psalm 19

Pharos Journal of Theology, 2022

This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. Fir... more This article suggests three ways that the psalm advances a biblical approach to epistemology. First, this psalm implies that some kinds of truth may be learned through careful observation. Psalm 19 as an invitation to seek the truth through scientific study in the form of disciplined observation, discovery, and analysis. If creation is speaking, then we must learn how to listen and hear its voice. Second, this psalm declares that truth can be learned from the Torah, the revealed word of God. Torah is a kind of knowledge that cannot be discovered; it must be revealed (Job 11:7-8; Romans 11:33). God's self-revelation is a gift of God to humanity, discerned relationally; therefore, it cannot be discovered by searching, even if the search is enhanced by microscopes, telescopes, or microwave kinetic inductance detectors. Third, Psalm 19 invites us to discover ourselves. Moral and spiritual progress requires self-examination and transformation. Beholding God's glory in creation and hearing God's word through the Torah provide the orientation that is necessary for us to face the truth about ourselves.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Masterplots, 2010

Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is perhaps his finest literary achievement and... more Martin Luther King’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail” is perhaps his finest literary achievement and most profound defense of his nonviolent program for the civil rights movement. Early in 1963 African-American leaders in Birmingham, AL invited King to lead a local demonstration against segregation. King led a nonviolent protest march that resulted in his arrest on Good Friday, April 12, 1963. The following day a full-page advertisement entitled “A Call for Unity” and signed by eight white clergymen appeared in The Birmingham News challenging the appropriateness of King’s “outside” involvement and questioning the necessity of demonstrations, calling instead for “negotiation”. King responded with the “Letter from Birmingham Jail”, which was written on the margins of the newspaper and on toilet paper and was smuggled out of the jail. After eight days of incarceration, King was released and his “Letter” was subsequently published in several periodicals. The events of Birmingham (owing in part to the effectiveness of the “Letter”) proved to be a turning point in the civil rights movement.

THE SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS, AFFECTIVITY, AND PENTECOSTAL SPIRITUALITY

THE SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS, AFFECTIVITY, AND PENTECOSTAL SPIRITUALITY, 2018

The studies in this volume represent my attempt to hear the message of the book of Psalms through... more The studies in this volume represent my attempt to hear the message
of the book of Psalms through rhetorical analysis, which includes
examination of the figures of speech, the emotive language, and the
poetic forms (both in terms of genre and verse structure). This hearing
of the book of Psalms takes place from within my Pentecostal
community and in light of my Pentecostal spirituality. In the past, the
study of rhetoric has served as a means of recovering the so-called
original intent of the author. I am concerned, however, with the impact
of the rhetoric – how it affects the hearer of the text. When we
read a psalm, how are we affected? What is our response? How does
it make us feel? How does the psalm impact our spirituality and our
spiritual practices? Furthermore, how do our passions influence our
interpretation of the text?

Pentecostal Identity: Embracing Heaven Below

This is an unpublished lecture, delivered in the Fall of 2020 at the Pentecostal Theological Semi... more

Pentecostal Identity: Embracing Heaven Below

At the heart of Pentecostalism is the tradition’s spirituality. Pentecostals inherited from John ... more At the heart of Pentecostalism is the tradition’s spirituality. Pentecostals inherited from John Wesley, their spiritual “grandfather,”3 a hopeful passion for the coming of God’s kingdom. Like Wesley, Pentecostals believe that the Full Gospel5 of Jesus Christ makes possible a life on earth that anticipates heaven.6 Christians “are in the world,” but “they are not of the world” (Jn 17:11-18). Where Jesus is present, the “kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17), and the works of Jesus are manifested (Jn 14:12). Thus, the eschatological kingdom of God is actualized already in part but not yet in the whole. Therefore, Pentecostalism is a Spirit empowered movement that seeks a divine encounter, bringing heaven to earth, creating an environment of love, joy, peace, holiness, and power in which the Holy Spirit reveals God’s glory, transforms lives, heals the sick, delivers those who are bound, and forms faithful Christian community. Because of its global diversity, Pentecostalism is difficult to define. It has no central head or ruling ecclesiastical body. It might be better to speak of “Pentecostalisms” (plural) rather than “Pentecostalism” (singular). Nevertheless, Pentecostalism can be described in a number of ways, which include aspects from the perspectives of History, Theology, and Spirituality.
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CV as of 10 Feb 2022