The 'Spiritual Death' of Jesus

A Pentecostal Investigation
Erscheinungsjahr 2009
ISBN: 978-90-04-17199-2
Verlag: Brill

Buch, Englisch, Band 1, 294 Seiten, Format (B × H): 168 mm x 244 mm, Gewicht: 635 g

Reihe: Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies

Winner of the Award of Excellence of the Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship 2010.

The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus ‘died spiritually’ (JDS) is important because of the influence of these men, not least on Pentecostalism. JDS originated with Kenyon, and has been taught in the Word-faith movement by Hagin and Copeland, despite much criticism. It incorporates three elements: in this death, Jesus was separated from God; partook of a satanic nature; and was Satan’s prey.

This theological appraisal takes research far further than previous works, both in method and in scope. It concludes that adoption of JDS by Pentecostalism would be damaging in several respects, and thus draw the latter away from its moorings in traditional Christianity. Pentecostals and others are advised to reject the bulk of this teaching.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Atkinson, William

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Christliche Kirchen, Konfessionen, Denominationen Protestantismus, evangelische und protestantische Kirchen Pfingstkirchen
• Geisteswissenschaften Christentum, Christliche Theologie Bibelwissenschaften Historisch-Kritische Jesusforschung
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religionsgeschichte

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface. vii
Acknowledgements. viii
List of abbreviations. ix

Introduction. 1

Chapter 1: The JDS debate and debaters. 5
1.1 Introduction. 5
1.2 The Word-faith movement. 7
1.3 Three foremost JDS teachers. 14
1.4 JDS teaching in theological context. 25
1.5 Categories of participant in the JDS debate. 39
1.6 Growing opposition. 43
1.7 Dissenting voices. 52
1.8.Mediating positions. 56
1.9. Chapter conclusions. 59

Chapter 2: Scope, criteria and methods. 63
2.1 Introduction. 63
2.2 Scope and limits. 63
2.3 Criteria. 65
2.4 Conformity with the biblical witness.67
2.5 Kenyon’s contemporary influences. 77
2.6 Reference to Christian theology. 82
2.7 Chapter conclusions. 95

Chapter 3: Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ and its necessity. 99
3.1 Introduction. 99
3.2 Biblical references to ‘spiritual death’. 100
3.3 Historical references to ‘spiritual death’. 111
3.4 JDS teaching’s terminology in modern Christian theology. 125
3.5 The necessity of Christ’s ‘spiritual death’. 127
3.6 Chapter conclusions. 141

Chapter 4: Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as separation from God. 147
4.1. Introduction. 147
4.2. The JDS articulation of Jesus’ separation from God. 147
4.3. Criticisms of the JDS position. 157
4.4. The possibility of a separation. 160
4.5. The timing of a possible separation. 172
4.6. The nature of a possible separation. 175
4.7. Chapter conclusions. 183

Chapter 5: Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as partaking of a sinful, satanic nature. 187
5.1 Introduction. 187
5.2 Satan. 188
5.3 Partaking of a sinful, satanic nature. 190
5.4 The responses of the critics. 195
5.5 Kenyon’s, Hagin’s and Copeland’s sources. 199
5.6 History of the tradition. 208
5.7 Chapter conclusions. 213

Chapter 6: Jesus’ ‘spiritual death’ as becoming Satan’s prey. 217
6.1 Introduction. 217
6.2 The views of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland. 218
6.3 Responses of the critics. 226
6.4 JDS sources. 231
6.5 Alternative proposals. 240
6.6 Chapter conclusions. 248

Chapter 7: Conclusions. 251
7.1 Introduction. 251
7.2 Summaries. 252
7.3 Further responses to the critics. 256
7.4 Sundry observations. 258
7.5 Overall appraisal of JDS teaching. 261

Bibliography. 263
Index of references. 281
Index of authors. 285
Index of subjects. 291

Über Autor(innen)

William P. Atkinson, PhD (Edinburgh, 2007), was Principal of Regents Theological College near Manchester, England for some years. Presently, he leads a church in South-East England, and teaches part time at Wisdom Christian College, London.