Wolfgang Vondey - Böcker

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious movement of our time. The unexpected birth of the modern-day Pentecostal movement at the doorsteps of the twentieth century is as perplexing as its continuing existence and unprecedented expansion worldwide. Once marginalized from public discourse, Pentecostals have entered into mainstream culture, religion, politics, academia, and social action. However, the unprecedented growth of Pentecostalism in all its diversity has led to characterizations ripe with platitudes, stereotypes, and misrepresentations. This Guide for the Perplexed sheds light on the most persistent contrasts characterizing the Pentecostal movement: the tension between local manifestations and global Pentecostalism, the inconsistency between spiritual discernment and charismatic excess, the gap between rampant denominationalism and the pursuit of Christian unity, the disparity between poverty among many Pentecostals and the popularity of the prosperity gospel, the division between Oneness Pentecostals and their trinitarian counterparts, and the worldview of Pentecostals beyond the confines of a religious movement.Those tensions form the essence of global Pentecostalism and represent the emergence of a global Christian world.

Winner of the Pneuma Book Award 2018, from The Society for Pentecostal Studies.Pentecostalism is the most rapidly growing branch of Christianity since the 20th century, yet it does not lend itself well to a singular doctrine and there is, therefore, no single comprehensive account of Pentecostal theology worldwide. In this volume, Wolfgang Vondey suggests an account of Pentecostal theology that is genuine to Pentecostals worldwide while allowing for different adaptation and explication among the various Pentecostal groups. He argues that Pentecostal theology is fundamentally concerned with the renewal of the Christian life identified by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and directed toward the kingdom of God. The book unfolds in two main parts illustrating the full gospel story and theology. Eleven chapters identify the spiritual underpinnings and motivations for Pentecostal theology, formulate a Pentecostal theology of action, translate, apply, and exemplify Pentecostal practices and experiences, and integrate Pentecostal theology in the wider Christian tradition.

Pentecostalism is the fastest growing religious movement of our time. The unexpected birth of the modern-day Pentecostal movement at the doorsteps of the twentieth century is as perplexing as its continuing existence and unprecedented expansion worldwide. Once marginalized from public discourse, Pentecostals have entered into mainstream culture, religion, politics, academia, and social action. However, the unprecedented growth of Pentecostalism in all its diversity has led to characterizations ripe with platitudes, stereotypes, and misrepresentations. This Guide for the Perplexed sheds light on the most persistent contrasts characterizing the Pentecostal movement: the tension between local manifestations and global Pentecostalism, the inconsistency between spiritual discernment and charismatic excess, the gap between rampant denominationalism and the pursuit of Christian unity, the disparity between poverty among many Pentecostals and the popularity of the prosperity gospel, the division between Oneness Pentecostals and their trinitarian counterparts, and the worldview of Pentecostals beyond the confines of a religious movement.Those tensions form the essence of global Pentecostalism and represent the emergence of a global Christian world.

Winner of the Pneuma Book Award 2018, from The Society for Pentecostal Studies.Pentecostalism is the most rapidly growing branch of Christianity since the 20th century, yet it does not lend itself well to a singular doctrine and there is, therefore, no single comprehensive account of Pentecostal theology worldwide. In this volume, Wolfgang Vondey suggests an account of Pentecostal theology that is genuine to Pentecostals worldwide while allowing for different adaptation and explication among the various Pentecostal groups. He argues that Pentecostal theology is fundamentally concerned with the renewal of the Christian life identified by the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and directed toward the kingdom of God. The book unfolds in two main parts illustrating the full gospel story and theology. Eleven chapters identify the spiritual underpinnings and motivations for Pentecostal theology, formulate a Pentecostal theology of action, translate, apply, and exemplify Pentecostal practices and experiences, and integrate Pentecostal theology in the wider Christian tradition.

This volume approaches the Word of Faith as a worldview, and analyses the movement through N. T. Wright’s model for worldview-analysis in order to provide necessary nuance and complexity to scholarly interpretations of the Word of Faith. The reader receives insights into the movement’s narrative, semiotic, practical and propositional dimensions, which cumulatively offer a multifaceted understanding of how the Word of Faith interprets reality and engages with the world. The analysis shows that there is a narrative core to Word of Faith beliefs in the form of a unique theological story with focus set on the present restoration of Eden’s authority and blessings.This study demonstrates how the Word of Faith operates as a distinct worldview that parses the world through the lens of faith’s causative power to affect a direct correspondence between present reality and Eden’s perfection. The findings advance a critical and therapeutic approach that acknowledges how the worldview both strengthens and subverts Pentecostalism.

This book offers a generative and hospitable theological methodology rooted in the distinctives of pentecostal spirituality, enlivened by a Spirited imagination and opened toward critical, constructive, and conciliatory dialogue with the wider Christian tradition. This inter- and cross-disciplinary work is careful yet generous, drawing together of knowledge and wisdom from different domains—historical, philosophical, and theological—in ways recognizably pentecostal and effectively missional.The book begins with a description of the essence of pentecostal spirituality that holds true across the various pentecostalisms. Drawing largely on an innovative engagement with the insights of Rudolph Otto and an exploration of the dialectic between religious experience and theological development, this book contends for an identifiable but mysterious “something” that makes pentecostalism truly pentecostal—that is, something more than one might sum up in any set of peculiar practices, beliefs, or behaviors.The book also provides an overview of the intellectual history of English-speaking pentecostalism, specifying and assessing the movement’s major philosophical underpinnings and socio-cultural motivations. Finally, funded by an explicitly pentecostal metaphysics, the book sets forth a significant and boldly original pneumatological theological methodology, shaped by discerning conversation with the works of Amos Yong, L. William Oliverio, Jr., Wolfgang Vondey, and Simo Frestadius, among others.

This book offers a generative and hospitable theological methodology rooted in the distinctives of pentecostal spirituality, enlivened by a Spirited imagination and opened toward critical, constructive, and conciliatory dialogue with the wider Christian tradition. This inter- and cross-disciplinary work is careful yet generous, drawing together of knowledge and wisdom from different domains—historical, philosophical, and theological—in ways recognizably pentecostal and effectively missional.The book begins with a description of the essence of pentecostal spirituality that holds true across the various pentecostalisms. Drawing largely on an innovative engagement with the insights of Rudolph Otto and an exploration of the dialectic between religious experience and theological development, this book contends for an identifiable but mysterious “something” that makes pentecostalism truly pentecostal—that is, something more than one might sum up in any set of peculiar practices, beliefs, or behaviors.The book also provides an overview of the intellectual history of English-speaking pentecostalism, specifying and assessing the movement’s major philosophical underpinnings and socio-cultural motivations. Finally, funded by an explicitly pentecostal metaphysics, the book sets forth a significant and boldly original pneumatological theological methodology, shaped by discerning conversation with the works of Amos Yong, L. William Oliverio, Jr., Wolfgang Vondey, and Simo Frestadius, among others.

Through a systematic analysis of the conflicts emerging when the public church encounters the public world, The Scandal of Pentecost argues that the public advent of the church stands in continuity with the public scandal of the incarnate and crucified Christ. The book traces the contours of this scandal in the confrontation of the dominant ruling hermeneutic of authority with a Christian hermeneutic of resistance. This highlights the brokenness of the human condition manifested by the church in the drunkenness of the disciples, the speaking in other tongues, the baptism with the Spirit, the empowerment of the flesh, and its public witness to a scandalized world.The effects of the scandal transform both the disciples’ individual and communal witness and their public recognition as the church. Through the lens of a symbolic hermeneutic, the public witness of the church at Pentecost reveals a Christian scandal of anthropological proportions: with the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh the church emerges as the symbol of humanity.

Through a systematic analysis of the conflicts emerging when the public church encounters the public world, The Scandal of Pentecost argues that the public advent of the church stands in continuity with the public scandal of the incarnate and crucified Christ. The book traces the contours of this scandal in the confrontation of the dominant ruling hermeneutic of authority with a Christian hermeneutic of resistance. This highlights the brokenness of the human condition manifested by the church in the drunkenness of the disciples, the speaking in other tongues, the baptism with the Spirit, the empowerment of the flesh, and its public witness to a scandalized world.The effects of the scandal transform both the disciples’ individual and communal witness and their public recognition as the church. Through the lens of a symbolic hermeneutic, the public witness of the church at Pentecost reveals a Christian scandal of anthropological proportions: with the outpouring of the Spirit on all flesh the church emerges as the symbol of humanity.

The distinct subjects of eschatology and gender equality have seen an explosion of interest in recent decades, particularly within Pentecostal scholarship. Pentecostalism is regarded ideally as both an eschatological and egalitarian movement. However, many Pentecostals have lamented the inconsistency between the early egalitarian impulse of the movement and its current restrictive practices. This situation has been described as the so-called Pentecostal “gender paradox,” referring to the conflicting freedoms and limitations experienced by Pentecostal women. Pentecostals have also recognized the waning eschatological fervor within the movement and its shifting eschatological convictions, leading to calls to rediscover the eschatological heart of the movement. Despite the renewed interest in both eschatology and women’s equality, little research has been done to put these two areas into conversation with each other: eschatological convictions are often absent in the debate on gender roles in the church. For Pentecostals, eschatology has often been about urgency in “saving souls” rather than attending to social issues, but could Pentecostal eschatology be the key to (re)discovering greater equality for women in the church? Is the waning of both eschatology and women’s equality within Pentecostalism potentially interrelated? For over one hundred years the role of women in Pentecostalism has been debated without a firm consensus. By examining gender solely through an eschatological lens in history, Scripture, and praxis, this work provides a valuable and creative contribution to one of the most important theological and global issues of our time, women’s (in)equality. This book is also one of the first comprehensive studies to approach a single social issue solely through an eschatological lens and to provide attention to developing a thorough and methodologically connected eschatological praxis. By uncovering the unified eschatological-egalitarian narrative thread within both the Pentecostal and biblical story, this work suggests that the present end of women’s inequality begins with fidelity to the future eschaton of gender equality.

The distinct subjects of eschatology and gender equality have seen an explosion of interest in recent decades, particularly within Pentecostal scholarship. Pentecostalism is regarded ideally as both an eschatological and egalitarian movement. However, many Pentecostals have lamented the inconsistency between the early egalitarian impulse of the movement and its current restrictive practices. This situation has been described as the so-called Pentecostal “gender paradox,” referring to the conflicting freedoms and limitations experienced by Pentecostal women. Pentecostals have also recognized the waning eschatological fervor within the movement and its shifting eschatological convictions, leading to calls to rediscover the eschatological heart of the movement. Despite the renewed interest in both eschatology and women’s equality, little research has been done to put these two areas into conversation with each other: eschatological convictions are often absent in the debate on gender roles in the church. For Pentecostals, eschatology has often been about urgency in “saving souls” rather than attending to social issues, but could Pentecostal eschatology be the key to (re)discovering greater equality for women in the church? Is the waning of both eschatology and women’s equality within Pentecostalism potentially interrelated? For over one hundred years the role of women in Pentecostalism has been debated without a firm consensus. By examining gender solely through an eschatological lens in history, Scripture, and praxis, this work provides a valuable and creative contribution to one of the most important theological and global issues of our time, women’s (in)equality. This book is also one of the first comprehensive studies to approach a single social issue solely through an eschatological lens and to provide attention to developing a thorough and methodologically connected eschatological praxis. By uncovering the unified eschatological-egalitarian narrative thread within both the Pentecostal and biblical story, this work suggests that the present end of women’s inequality begins with fidelity to the future eschaton of gender equality.

Insofar as Christian theology aims to make truthful claims about the nature of reality, it is necessarily involved in the enterprise of metaphysics. Pentecostals, precisely as Christians, are thus obliged to participate. Through this study it becomes evident that pentecostals aim to participate in the metaphysical discipline in the same way they theologize — that is, informed by the norms, practices, and speech acts that constitute their spirituality. This book aims to construct a Christian metaphysics that is at once attuned to pentecostal spirituality/theology and informed by the classical tradition of Christian metaphysics. Ultimately, this work offers a constructive and critical engagement with pentecostal spirituality, and with pentecostal theology via the larger ecumenical, creedal, and dogmatic metaphysical tradition. Thus, this book is explicitly and intentionally limited to understand metaphysics in conversation with the historical Christian tradition, and to understand a pentecostal vision of it.

Insofar as Christian theology aims to make truthful claims about the nature of reality, it is necessarily involved in the enterprise of metaphysics. Pentecostals, precisely as Christians, are thus obliged to participate. Through this study it becomes evident that pentecostals aim to participate in the metaphysical discipline in the same way they theologize — that is, informed by the norms, practices, and speech acts that constitute their spirituality. This book aims to construct a Christian metaphysics that is at once attuned to pentecostal spirituality/theology and informed by the classical tradition of Christian metaphysics. Ultimately, this work offers a constructive and critical engagement with pentecostal spirituality, and with pentecostal theology via the larger ecumenical, creedal, and dogmatic metaphysical tradition. Thus, this book is explicitly and intentionally limited to understand metaphysics in conversation with the historical Christian tradition, and to understand a pentecostal vision of it.

This incisive work shows that faith does not need to be understood as what one believes, does, or feels when faith is understood as being in Christ by being in the Spirit. The way in which Christians and Christian theology, at least in Western traditions, including the family of Pentecostals and renewal movements, engages with the idea of faith has a problem – faith is often defined as what people must do, whether that is to believe in a list of doctrines, to do “good” works, or to love properly, in order for God to respond with forgiveness and salvation.However, this work takes a new approach with a pneumatological trajectory in constructing a theology of faith understood as life in the Spirit, overcoming a stalemated discussion on faith as belief versus works. As such, “faith is being in Christ by being in the Spirit” is the theological recognition that faith is first relationality to the Spirit by which a person is invited into life with Christ and the triune God. Faith is not what one does (beliefs, works, affections) but rather what one is, in relationality with the Spirit. Beliefs, works, and affections are best understood as those things that are the outward expressions of the relationality rather than that which brings one into relationality with God.

This book explores how Pentecostal meaning-full worship frees people into a cosmic liturgy that wills humanity to Pentecost. A liturgical turn has marked recent Pentecostal studies, producing a growing body of liturgical theologies. This cutting edge work analyses four theologians at its forefront: Tanya Riches, Daniela Augustine, Chris E.W. Green, and Wolfgang Vondey. It does so through a "liturgy as primary theology" approach, which defines liturgy as "the church at prayer”. Here, Rice shows how Pentecostal experience clarifies liturgy as the church at prayer on the altar. Drawing from critical discourse analysis, continental philosophy, and Aristotelian wisdom, this incisive book proceeds by narrating a healing soteriology that makes humanity willed to the common good signified by Pentecost. Working from Walter Hollenweger’s insights on the ecumenical promise of Pentecostal liturgy, Rice identifies inclusivity, liberative spirituality, Majority World epistemology, gift-sharing community, and scholarly re-oralization as apt benchmarks for Pentecostal liturgical theology. This inclusive multi-faceted form reveals how Occidental voices dominate the Pentecostal discourse, yet conversely offers augmenting pathways toward a more globally representative theology, summoning the Pentecostal academy to the altar.The foremost pathway this book presents is its theology of Pentecostal meaning-full worship. Through the lens of liturgy as a cosmic gift economy, Rice shows how Pentecostal meaning-full worship frees people into a cosmic liturgy that wills humanity to Pentecost. Through engaging Ricoeurean/Aristotelian narrative theory, this eye-opening work thus climaxes with a briefly constructed Pentecostal theology of the altar. It shows how Pentecostal meaning-full worship fosters moral formation as worshippers place themselves on the altar of sacrifice, becoming priestly partners with God; fuelling the gift economy that flourishes his household, till all creation be willed to Pentecost.

This book explores how Pentecostal meaning-full worship frees people into a cosmic liturgy that wills humanity to Pentecost. A liturgical turn has marked recent Pentecostal studies, producing a growing body of liturgical theologies. This cutting edge work analyses four theologians at its forefront: Tanya Riches, Daniela Augustine, Chris E.W. Green, and Wolfgang Vondey. It does so through a "liturgy as primary theology" approach, which defines liturgy as "the church at prayer”. Here, Rice shows how Pentecostal experience clarifies liturgy as the church at prayer on the altar. Drawing from critical discourse analysis, continental philosophy, and Aristotelian wisdom, this incisive book proceeds by narrating a healing soteriology that makes humanity willed to the common good signified by Pentecost. Working from Walter Hollenweger’s insights on the ecumenical promise of Pentecostal liturgy, Rice identifies inclusivity, liberative spirituality, Majority World epistemology, gift-sharing community, and scholarly re-oralization as apt benchmarks for Pentecostal liturgical theology. This inclusive multi-faceted form reveals how Occidental voices dominate the Pentecostal discourse, yet conversely offers augmenting pathways toward a more globally representative theology, summoning the Pentecostal academy to the altar.The foremost pathway this book presents is its theology of Pentecostal meaning-full worship. Through the lens of liturgy as a cosmic gift economy, Rice shows how Pentecostal meaning-full worship frees people into a cosmic liturgy that wills humanity to Pentecost. Through engaging Ricoeurean/Aristotelian narrative theory, this eye-opening work thus climaxes with a briefly constructed Pentecostal theology of the altar. It shows how Pentecostal meaning-full worship fosters moral formation as worshippers place themselves on the altar of sacrifice, becoming priestly partners with God; fuelling the gift economy that flourishes his household, till all creation be willed to Pentecost.

This expanded edition of Wolfgang Vondey’s masterful account of Pentecostal Theology, first published in 2017, features new chapters on biblical hermeneutics and political theology. The winner of the Pneuma Book Award 2018, from the Society for Pentecostal Studies. Pentecostalism is the most rapidly growing branch of Christianity since the 20th century. In this work, Vondey gives a powerful overview of Pentecostal Theology that is genuine to Pentecostals worldwide whilst allowing for different adaptations among the various Pentecostal groups. The 2 new chapters add a new dimension to this work as they address a void between the doctrine of church and the doctrine of God. With an updated preface and expanded conclusion, this work is essential for any student looking to get a grasp of the Pentecostal movement.

This expanded edition of Wolfgang Vondey’s masterful account of Pentecostal Theology, first published in 2017, features new chapters on biblical hermeneutics and political theology. The winner of the Pneuma Book Award 2018, from the Society for Pentecostal Studies. Pentecostalism is the most rapidly growing branch of Christianity since the 20th century. In this work, Vondey gives a powerful overview of Pentecostal Theology that is genuine to Pentecostals worldwide whilst allowing for different adaptations among the various Pentecostal groups. The 2 new chapters add a new dimension to this work as they address a void between the doctrine of church and the doctrine of God. With an updated preface and expanded conclusion, this work is essential for any student looking to get a grasp of the Pentecostal movement.

A healthy and fruitful political theology is essential for the future of Pentecostal and Charismatic movements worldwide. This book offers crucial reflections on how to develop this area of theology.First, Binyet presents a central debate in political theology: the rift between neo-traditional and liberal Augustinianism. This debate helps situating the emerging voices of Pentecostal and Charismatic scholarship within the field of political theology, revealing the diversity, creativity, and significant potential of Pentecostal and Charismatic approaches to politics.Second, this incisive work provides a constructive proposal for the development of Pentecostal and Charismatic political theology. This analysis is grounded in the underlying conviction that Pentecostal and Charismatic spirituality is inherently political, and that political theology should begin with the ecclesial practices of Pentecostalism.Binyet advocates for a critical yet radical embrace of Pentecostal and Charismatic spirituality, particularly its charismatic and apocalyptic dimensions, as a means to engage fruitfully with the political realm.

Over the past century, the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements have transformed the global Christian landscape with their emphasis on personal encounters with God. In this rigorous work, Andersen explains how Pentecostal experiences can also serve as a genuine source for Christian theology.Theology tends to draw upon traditional sources, those of Scripture, tradition and reason. Andersen brilliantly highlights how all these sources relate to the religious experiences, and how they all influence each other reciprocally in systematic theology.Through developing key criteria of how to evaluate these experiences, this book examines in detail what positive role Christian affections play in theological work and reflection processes. Highlighting the interplay between emotions and beliefs, the author combines Pentecostal theology of Christian affections with neuroscience and the somatic marker hypothesis.Finally, the book makes a cumulative case for the reliability of Pentecostal experiences of God. It synthesises arguments from the philosophy of religion to suggest a nuanced proposal of their distinct theological contribution as manifestation beliefs that represent relational and personal knowledge of God.

This insightful study offers the first comprehensive overview of the theology and praxis of Roman Catholic theologian Heribert Mühlen. This theologically accurate and historically sensitive book shows that Mühlen has gone beyond his popular early academic exercise by documenting and proposing a liturgical praxis that aims at providing a concrete framework for the acceptance and renewal of the human covenantal relationship with God. In every respect, Mühlen's theology and praxis marks the beginning of a new profile of the Church. A letter and epilogue by Heribert Mühlen are included.

Research on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity has increased dramatically in recent decades, and a diverse array of disciplines have begun to address a range of elements of these movements. Yet, there exists very little understanding of Pentecostal theology, and it is not uncommon to encounter stereotypes and misperceptions.Addressing this gap in current research, The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is an exceptional reference source to the key topics, challenges, and debates in this growing field of study and is the first collection of its kind to offer a comprehensive presentation and critical discussion of this subject. Comprising over forty chapters written by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into five parts:Contextualizing Pentecostal TheologySourcesTheological MethodDoctrines and PracticesConversations and Challenges.These sections take the reader through a comprehensive introduction to what Pentecostals believe and how they practice their faith. Looking at issues such as the core teachings of Pentecostalism concerning Spirit baptism, divine healing, or eschatology; unique practices, such as spiritual warfare and worship; and less discussed issues, such as social justice and gender, each chapter builds towards a nuanced and global picture of the theology of the Pentecostal movement.The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is essential reading for students and researchers in Pentecostal Studies, World Christianity, and Theology as well as scholars working in contemporary Religious Studies.

Research on Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity has increased dramatically in recent decades, and a diverse array of disciplines have begun to address a range of elements of these movements. Yet, there exists very little understanding of Pentecostal theology, and it is not uncommon to encounter stereotypes and misperceptions.Addressing this gap in current research, The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is an exceptional reference source to the key topics, challenges, and debates in this growing field of study and is the first collection of its kind to offer a comprehensive presentation and critical discussion of this subject. Comprising over forty chapters written by a team of international contributors, the Handbook is divided into five parts: Contextualizing Pentecostal Theology Sources Theological Method Doctrines and Practices Conversations and Challenges.These sections take the reader through a comprehensive introduction to what Pentecostals believe and how they practice their faith. Looking at issues such as the core teachings of Pentecostalism concerning Spirit baptism, divine healing, or eschatology; unique practices, such as spiritual warfare and worship; and less discussed issues, such as social justice and gender, each chapter builds towards a nuanced and global picture of the theology of the Pentecostal movement.The Routledge Handbook of Pentecostal Theology is essential reading for students and researchers in Pentecostal Studies, World Christianity, and Theology as well as scholars working in contemporary Religious Studies.