Egyptian Pentecostalism: When Cyclones of Divine Power Invaded the Ancient Land

Tharwat Maher Nagib Adly Nagib, Ph.D. (2019), Regent University, VA, is Academic Dean and Professor of Historical Theology and Wesleyan/Pentecostal Studies at Faith Wesleyan Theological Seminary in Cairo. He is also the founder of Heaven Upon Earth Ministry in Egypt.

In his Egyptian Pentecostalism, Tharwat Adly has written what surely will be the definitive work on Egyptian Pentecostalism, a subject that has been long overlooked. This book is thoroughly researched, documented and above all well-written. Thank you Dr. Tharwat for this very valuable book. - Vinson Synan, Oral Roberts UniversityThe first study of its kind, Tharwat's in-depth examination of the Pentecostal movement in Egypt sets a high standard for the historiography of Egyptian Pentecostalism. Through a meticulous investigation of Arabic and English sources, Tharwat anchors the emergence of Pentecostalism in late 19th-century Wesleyan Holiness soil and shows how international networks of indigenous and missionary men and women facilitated its growth. This study will become the standard for all future research on Egyptian Pentecostalism.- Dale M. Coulter, Pentecostal Theological SeminaryTharwat Maher Nagib’s historiographical and theological analysis of Pentecostalism in Egypt fills a notable gap in scholarly research on Pentecostalism in Egypt and the Arab world. Employing a five-paradigm narrative methodology, Tharwat opens new vistas of insight into the resonance of the Egyptian socio-cultural context with the essential dynamics of Pentecostalism, including supernaturalism, tension with modernization, honoring of women, house church model, and democratization of power. Casting a larger net, Tharwat claims that the contextual theologies of Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Egypt impacted other Christian communities in the Middle East. Serious consideration should be given to replicating the methodology of this study to research on Pentecostalism in other regions in the Arab world.- Eric Newberg, Oral Roberts UniversityI cannot say enough about the importance of this book. The scholarly research is comprehensive and the methodology exquisite. A large part of its value is that it’s the first history of Pentecostalism in Egypt written by an Egyptian (and committed Pentecostal pastor), who discovered and analyzed sources in Arabic that had not yet been uncovered. A further value is that it reveals to us a large part of our own story and connects us with family we haven’t known. To see the work of my students, like Tharwat, come to fruition has been one of the greatest joys of my years as a scholar and teacher.- Kimberly Erwin Alexander, Regent University

• Preface and AcknowledgementsList of Abbreviations1 Introduction Setting the Stage1 Purpose of the Study2 Previous Glimpses on the Topic3 Methodology and Description of the Primary Sources4 Historical Background of the “Waves” Theory4.1 The First Wave: Classical Pentecostals4.2 The Second Wave: Charismatic Renewal4.3 The Third Wave: Neo-charismatics4.4 The Fourth Wave: New Apostolic Reformation4.5 Critiques of the Three-Wave Taxonomy5 Anderson’s Alternative Taxonomy6 The Study of Egyptian Pentecostalism and the Usage of the “Waves” AnalogyPart 1Historical NarrativeIntroduction to Part 12 The Early Protestant Missions in Egypt during the Ottoman Rule (1517–1798) until the Coming of the American Presbyterian Mission to Egypt in the Nineteenth Century1 Introduction2 The Early Protestant Missionary Work in Egypt during the Ottoman Rule (1517–1798) until Muhammad Ali’s Rule (1805–1848)2.1 A Socio-cultural Background2.2 Peter Heyling (1633–1634)2.3 The Moravian Mission in Egypt (1750–1782)2.4 Church Missionary Society (cms) Mission in Egypt (1825–1862)3 The Rise of Protestantism in Egypt3.1 The Egyptian Socio-political Context during the Second Half of the Nineteenth Century3.2 The Coptic Church in the Mid-nineteenth Century3.3 The Coming of the American Presbyterian Mission to Egypt3.4 The Establishment of the First Egyptian Organized Protestant Denomination in Egypt: the Egyptian Presbyterian Church4 A Discussion of Various Narratives and Interpretations of the Western Missionary Efforts in Egypt during the Nineteenth and Twentieth Century5 A Case Study: a Brief Examination of the Case of the cms Mission according to the Previous Examined Narratives3 The Pre-Pentecostal Era in Egypt (1899–1906) and the Wesleyan Holiness/Pentecostal-Like Movements during the First Half of the Twentieth Century1 Introduction2 The Ecclesiastical and Social Landscape in Egypt during the Last Decade of the Nineteenth Century3 The Emergence of the Canadian Holiness Movement Church (hmc): a Theological and Socio-Cultural Background4 The Emergence of the Egyptian Holiness Movement Church (ehmc): Cyclones of the Divine Power Reaches Upper Egypt4 The Birth of Egyptian Pentecostalism The Classical Pentecostal Movements in Egypt from the Beginning of the Twentieth Century until the Final Composition of Egyptian Pentecostal Denominations by the Mid-1960s1 Introduction2 Three-Blessing Theology in Transition: from Pentecostal-Like Holiness Movements to Classical Pentecostalism3 The Emergence of the Classical Pentecostal Wave in Egypt3.1 The Formative Years (1907–1912): Who Was the First to Light the Pentecostal Flame in Egypt?3.2 George S. Brelsford’s Mission in Egypt (1909–1912): Theological Characteristics and Missionary Strategies4 Major Developments during the Middle Years (1913–1930s)4.1 A Shift Towards Durham’s “Finished Work” Theology and the Establishment of the Egyptian Assemblies of God4.2 H. E. Randall’s Pentecostal Ministry in Egypt: the Early Phase (1912–1914)4.3 Dāir el-Jārnoūs’ Revival and the Early Phase of Boutros Labib’s Ministry (1913–1914)4.4 The Rise of Native Pentecostal Ministers in Egypt: Amir Abdel Malik (1893–1989) and Salib Boulos (1897–1946) as Models4.5 Early Egyptian Pentecostalism (1907–1920) between Proliferation and Marginalization4.6 Rejection of the Oneness Theology in the Ancient Trinitarian Land: Randall’s Embrace of the Unipersonal Belief in 1915 and his Repentance in 19214.7 Years of Expansion and Stabilization of the aog Denomination (Al-Kānīsā Al-Rāsūlīyah) in Egypt (1920s–1930s)5 The Establishment of the Pentecostal Church of God (cog) in the Early 1940s6 Samuel Mishreky’s Ministry and the Establishment of the Central Pentecostal Church of God in Cairo7 The Establishment of Luxor Independent Oneness Church in the Late 1950s8 Various Narratives of the Emergence and Development of the Classical Wave of Egyptian Pentecostalism: a Brief Analysis5 The Neo-charismatic Movement in Egypt from Its Emergence in the 1980s until the Present Time1 Introduction2 The Second Wave of Pentecostalism: the Charismatic Movements in Egypt3 The Third Wave of Pentecostalism: the Neo-charismatic Movements in Egypt3.1 House-Church Movements3.2 Independent Classical Spiritual Ministries3.3 Ecumenical Ministries3.4 Neo-charismatic Mega-conferences3.5 Fivefold Ministries and nar Structures4 The Third Wave of Egyptian Pentecostalism in the Light of the First Wave: Organizational and Ecumenical AspectsPart 2Theological AnalysisIntroduction to Part 26 The Undeveloped Theological Aspects of the Classical Wave of Egyptian Pentecostalism The Contextual Pentecostal Theology of Samuel Mishreky1 Introduction2 The Trinitarian Aspect of Mishreky’s Theology3 The Christological Aspect of Mishreky’s Theology4 The Wesleyan Aspect of Mishreky’s Theology7 Historical Developments of the Doctrine of Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Relation to Major Eschatological and Ecclesiastical Aspects of Egyptian Pentecostalism1 Introduction2 Baptism of the Holy Spirit in the Western Context: a Brief Historical and Theological Background3 Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Egyptian Pentecostalism: Historical and Theological Developments4 Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Relation to Major Ecclesiastical and Eschatological Aspects in Egyptian Pentecostalism5 Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Egyptian Pentecostalism: Speaking in Tongues and Other Manifestations6 Baptism of the Holy Spirit in Egyptian Pentecostalism: Debates with Other Christian Traditions8 Historical Developments of Healing Theologies in Egyptian Pentecostalism1 Introduction2 Healing Theologies in the West from Wesleyan Tradition to Classical Pentecostalism: a Theological Landscape3 Developments of Healing Theologies and Practices in the First Wave of Egyptian Pentecostalism3.1 Healing Theologies and Practices in Early Pentecostal Missions in Egypt3.2 Healing Theologies and Practices in the Major Egyptian Pentecostal Denominations: the Egyptian aog, cog, and pcog4 Developments of Healing Theologies and Practices in the Neo-charismatic Wave of Egyptian PentecostalismPart 3Case StudyIntroduction to Part 39 Women in Egyptian Pentecostalism1 Introduction2 Women’s Ministry in the Early Holiness/Pentecostal Traditions in the West: a Brief Historical Background3 History of the Early Holiness/Pentecostal Women Missionaries in Egypt and the Egyptian Women’s Involvement in Ministry3.1 Women’s Ministry during the Holiness/Pre-pentecostal Era in Egypt3.2 Women’s Ministry during the Early Egyptian Classical Pentecostalism3.2.1 Lucy M. Leatherman (c. 1870–1925)3.2.2 Sarah A. Smith (c. 1844–1918)3.2.3 Lillian H. Trasher (1887–1961)3.2.4 Mabel Dean (c. 1884–1961)4 Women in the Contemporary Egyptian Pentecostal/Neo-charismatic Context4.1 An Examination of the Contemporary Egyptian Pentecostal/Neo-charismatic Teaching on the Role of Women in Ministry4.2 Ordinary and Non-prominent Pentecostals/Charismatics’ Beliefs10 Conclusions and Additional Insights1 Summation of Findings and Major Contributions2 The Acceptance of Pentecostalism in Egypt in the Light of Egyptian Cultural Context and Social Ethos: Additional Insights3 The Road Ahead: Possibilities for Further Studies and Contributions to Renewal StudiesAppendix 1: FiguresAppendix 2: A Translated Version of the Original Arabic Survey: the Role of Women in MinistryBibliographyIndex