{"id":22889,"date":"2018-11-30T18:23:34","date_gmt":"2018-11-30T18:23:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/william-atkinson-jesus-before-pentecost\/"},"modified":"2018-11-30T18:23:34","modified_gmt":"2018-11-30T18:23:34","slug":"william-atkinson-jesus-before-pentecost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/william-atkinson-jesus-before-pentecost\/","title":{"rendered":"William Atkinson: Jesus before Pentecost"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>William P. Atkinson, Jesus before Pentecost<\/a> <\/em>(Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2016), 222 pages.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unapologetically Pentecostal, Atkinson, an ordained minister, presents Jesus through the eyes of a Pentecostal believer as well as through the eyes of a scholar (Edinburgh)\u2014that is, as a theological historian he views Jesus in the \u201cthen and there,\u201d while as a Pentecostal, he views Jesus in the \u201chere and now\u201d (1).<\/p>\n

I have watched over a seven-year span (four books) as Atkinson has fine-tuned his writing skills. As I read Jesus Before Pentecost<\/a><\/em>, though certainly scholarly, at times it was as if I was reading a devotional (as space permits, I will include such passages).<\/p>\n

This latest book looks at the well-known Pentecostal pillars of Jesus as savior, healer, baptizer in the Spirit, and soon-coming King. He acknowledges the five-fold pattern which includes Jesus as sanctifier, but chooses to examine the four-square \u201crubric,\u201d as that is the pattern of his own tradition (UK-based Elim Pentecostal Church). He accurately notes that this four-square gospel foundation of Pentecostalism exposes the \u201cinaccurate criticism\u201d that Pentecostals are Spirit-centered and give short shrift to Jesus.<\/p>\n

It is Atkinson\u2019s contention that \u201csomeone who looks at Jesus through Pentecostal eyes thereby gains helpful insight by means of that perspective\u201d (7). If, as he believes, \u201cwhat you see depends on where you are looking from\u201d (40), this brings certain things to the foreground, such as the miraculous healing ministry of Jesus and his anointing of God\u2019s Spirit.<\/p>\n

Before delving into the attributes of Jesus under the four-square pattern, Atkinson defends the use of the Gospel of John as the primary source of truth about the historical Jesus. Atkinson wishes to draw his picture of Jesus from ancient eyes, so eyewitness testimony is paramount, especially what the witnesses say that Jesus said about himself.<\/p>\n

\"\"
William P. Atkinson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Atkinson carefully builds a case that supports the use of John. Given the evidence from John (19:25\u201326; 20:2\u20135), he concludes \u201cIt is a deep irony \u2026 that the fourth gospel appears as little more than a footnote in major studies of Jesus\u2019 history\u201d (16). In addition to the gospels and Paul, Atkinson also considers non-biblical sources such as Josephus, Quadratus, the Gospel of Thomas<\/em>, and Q (as a body of oral tradition) (12ff., 34).<\/p>\n

Savior<\/em>. According to Atkinson, Pentecostalism directly assaults \u201cpie in the sky\u201d (my words) theology. \u201cSalvation will not be presented in Pentecostal communities as only a hope for the life to come.\u201d He follows with a discussion of enjoying \u201cthe benefits of God\u2019s kingdom in their present lives\u201d (47). Jesus is savior in many ways, for example, he saved people from the immediate threat of being drowned, he saved people from social estrangement, he saved people from physical hunger, and he saved people from God\u2019s silence and from God\u2019s absence (48\u201350). On a lighter note, \u201cJesus\u2019 teaching effectively \u2018saved\u2019 listeners from the frustrations of listening to other teachers whose input seems to have smacked of hypercritical superficiality (Mark 1:22)\u201d (50). More important, Jesus saved from Satanic bondage and divine judgment.<\/p>\n

Atkinson concludes this chapter poignantly:<\/p>\n

What the feeding of the five thousand represented was further recalled and highlighted at the last supper. \u2026 While there was no miraculous multiplication of the bread on this latter occasion, his words pointed forwards \u2026 to the cross that lay soon ahead. \u2026 Perhaps he foresaw that countless thousands, not just five thousand, would benefit from the breaking of this latter bread. He was to give his life for the world (78).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Healer<\/em>. In this chapter, Atkinson informs the reader that not only does he write as a Pentecostal but also as a medical doctor (Edinburgh), before entering ordained ministry (80). Here he engages with scholars and leaders of his own denomination.<\/p>\n

What might be gained by looking at Jesus through Pentecostal eyes?<\/strong><\/em><\/div>Pentecostals, Atkinson writes (as a medical doctor as well as a divine), believing as they do in supernatural healing, bring a helpful perspective to the miraculous healings performed by Jesus. Ever cautious (some might say to a fault), Atkinson does not claim that Pentecostals are \u201cbetter\u201d at reading the healing accounts, but that \u201cthey come to the task with a particular set of equipment\u201d (80). He believes that there is \u201csufficient likelihood\u201d that healings occurring today are analogous to the healings that occurred in Jesus\u2019s ministry, thus it is reasonable that some trust \u201cbe placed in the light that shines on the text when the eyes reading it are Pentecostal\u201d (80).<\/p>\n

This chapter goes on to discuss in brief but substantial ways the very claims of miracles in Jesus\u2019s ministry, the origin of sickness in Jesus\u2019s thought, Jesus\u2019s authority over evil spirits, and the role of the subject\u2019s faith and to whom it should be directed.<\/p>\n

However, the last two sections were the most interesting and meaningful. First, he discusses healings and the identity of Jesus. Noting that Jesus acknowledged that there were other exorcists around (Mark 9:8), he did not see his ministry as simply continuing their good work,<\/p>\n

but as uniquely eschatological in character (Luke 11:20)\u2026 . Satan\u2019s defeat had begun \u2026 repentance\u2014a return to God the king\u2014should follow. \u2026<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Jesus regarded his healings as signs and expected people to look beyond the healings themselves and to look at him, Jesus, in their light. He is the one prophesied by John. \u2026 Healings should in this sense incite faith that Jesus was acting on behalf of Israel\u2019s God (John 11:42). (104, 105)<\/p>\n

Finally, Atkinson lays out the case that Jesus\u2019s healing ministry, ironically, led to his death (107). Jesus healed on the Sabbath, and to the consternation of the temple leaders who confronted him, deliberately continued to do so. According to John, the raising of Lazarus from the dead \u201cled directly to Jesus\u2019 being arrested and executed (John 11:53)\u201d (108). The Sabbath healings in Galilee and Jerusalem and the \u201cclimactic healing of Lazarus near Jerusalem would seal those earlier thoughts and plans: Jesus would have to die\u201d (113).<\/p>\n

Baptizer in the Spirit<\/em>. The two pillars that preceded\u2014Jesus as savior and healer\u2014are not unique to Pentecostalism (neither is soon-coming King), so this chapter may be of greater significance to the Pentecostal believer than the others. Although Atkinson writes that he would \u201cif necessary correct Pentecostal thinking in this area\u201d (124), I noted no corrections.<\/p>\n

Jesus freely received power and authority from heaven by the Spirit, and freely gave it to his team.<\/strong><\/em><\/div>What Pentecostal would not agree that \u201cthe promised power of the Spirit is intimately tied to the responsibility to engage in Christian mission\u201d or that \u201cthe same Spirit of God is at work in their lives as enabled Jesus to engage in his mission\u201d (123). Atkinson argues that the anointing of the Spirit that Jesus received was for his mission\u201d (129); likewise, he called not just the twelve but scores (Luke 10:1\u201312) and instructed them to pray for more workers of the harvest; Jesus understood this as a \u201cworldwide<\/em>\u201d mission (146). \u201cHe was looking for people to go and engage in his prophetic mission, performing miracles too\u201d (135).<\/p>\n

Jesus freely received power and authority from heaven by the Spirit, and freely gave it to his team (140). \u201cThere is no reason to suppose, then,\u201d Atkinson writes, \u201cthat Jesus expected his co-missioners to experience any less success in their mission than he did in his, for they were now equipped with divine authority by the Spirit\u2019s agency\u201d (141).<\/p>\n

After the resurrection, with the cross behind him, Jesus proceeded with his mission, which would now be taken internationally.<\/p>\n

When his promises were fulfilled, the first generation of believers discovered all sorts of ways that Jesus was involved in their experience of the Spirit, beyond merely assuring them that it was going to happen. Thus they rightly picked up both John the Baptist\u2019s promise and his language, and identified the exalted Jesus as their \u201cbaptizer in the Spirit\u201d (Acts 11:16; 1 Cor 12:13). \u2026 Pentecostals are not wrong to regard this as a promise and activity of Jesus; neither is it wrong to associate it with power and authority to engage in the mission Jesus both initiated and commanded. (151)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Soon-coming King<\/em>. There are two issues in this pillar and Atkinson discusses both: the imminent return of Christ and his kingly nature. Pentecostals hold with great passion Jesus\u2019s return, though their \u201cfervor has cooled over the course of the twentieth century. It remains a central Pentecostal conviction that Jesus will return in power and glory to rule and judge the world \u2026\u201d (156). In the beginning of the Pentecostal movement (and even today), this fervor in Pentecostal thinking was not misplaced, and it translated into a zeal for evangelism (187).<\/p>\n

Atkinson notes that not only was Jesus nailed to the cross, but so was his crime\u2014\u201cking of the Jews\u201d: \u201cJesus died as a deeply traumatized and virtually deserted man. He died as a convicted criminal. But he died labeled a king\u201d (170). In the epilogue appropriately titled \u201cIn the Time Before He Comes,\u201d Atkinson concludes: \u201cAs he had sent some out in pairs to further his mission in preaching and healing, so too they would send out others in the same mission, until he came once again, as the king he had always been. Maranatha; Come, Lord Jesus\u201d (189).<\/p>\n

For a heady but semi-devotional read, I highly recommend Jesus before Pentecost<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

Reviewed by Robert W. Graves <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Full disclosure: Atkinson serves on the Board of Advisors of The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship for which Robert Graves is the co-founder and president.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Publisher\u2019s page: https:\/\/wipfandstock.com\/jesus-before-pentecost.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

William P. Atkinson, Jesus before Pentecost (Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2016), 222 pages. Unapologetically Pentecostal, Atkinson, an ordained minister, presents Jesus through the eyes of a Pentecostal believer as well as through the eyes of a scholar (Edinburgh)\u2014that is, as a theological historian he views Jesus in the \u201cthen and there,\u201d while as a Pentecostal,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2883,"featured_media":22890,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[12,6493],"tags":[6012,2710,2947,2959],"ppma_author":[4719],"class_list":["post-22889","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-biblical-studies","category-fall-2018","tag-atkinson","tag-jesus","tag-pentecost","tag-william","author-robertwgraves"],"authors":[{"term_id":4719,"user_id":2883,"is_guest":0,"slug":"robertwgraves","display_name":"Robert Graves","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/RobertGraves_ttfps_crop.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/RobertGraves_ttfps_crop.jpg"},"0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22889","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2883"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22889"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22889\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22890"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22889"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22889"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22889"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/km7.a6a.mytemp.website\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=22889"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}