The Triune God and the Charismatic Movement: A Critical Appraisal from a Scottish Perspective

All emotion and no theology? Or a fundamental challenge to reappraise and realign our Trinitarian theology in the light of Christian experience? This study of Charismatic renewal as it found expression within Scotland at the end of the twentieth century evaluates the use of Patristic, Reformed, and contemporary models of the Trinity in explaining the workings of the Holy Spirit. ’In this lively study, Jim Purves provides a critical appropriation of key figures in the Scottish theological tradition through focusing on some of the central emphases of the charismatic movement. Engaging with both historical and modern trends, he brings a fresh perspective to current debate on pneumatology. This monograph is a valuable contribution to the growing body of literature that seeks to present charismatic themes within the context of biblical and theological scholarship.’ --Professor David Fergusson, Professor and Head of the School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh ’This book is valuable at a variety of levels. Historically, it is a welcome and worthy addition to those existing works which tell the story of charismatic renewal in the British Isles. Theologically, it is a lucid exposition of the ways in which that renewal has strengthened the articulation of a more adequate doctrine of the Spirit. Experientially, it deals with the trinitarian form and content of the Christian experience of salvation. In each of these aspects this is a book worth reading.’ --Nigel G. Wright, Principal, Spurgeon’s College, London ’The strength of Purves’ research work lies in the masterful blend of experience and contextual language of appropriation. It is a rewarding attempt to expand the Trinitarian and pneumatological insights of the Scottish Reformed tradition to embrace the experience of the Charismatic Movement in Scotland in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. His penetrating analysis provides an excellent example of a much-needed link between the experiential primary theological life of the Church and the well-developed conceptual framework of secondary academic theological discourse.’ --from the Foreword by Parush Parushev, Director of Applied Theology, International Baptist Theological Seminary, Prague ’I welcome this stimulating and thorough study. Dr Purves urges us to speak about God’s Spirit, at work to mould us to God’s current purposes.’ --Mike Parker, General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance, Scotland ’Jim Purves’ study situates the charismatic movement judiciously within historical, geographical and wider theological contexts. His sympathetic yet critical evaluation, born both of firsthand engagement and careful scholarship, will be of interest to all concerned to discern where the Holy Spirit is blowing in the churches, and to relate this to the wider pattern of credal faith in the triune God.’ --Trevor Hart, Head of Divinity School, University of St Andrews Jim Purves is pastor of Bristo Baptist Church, Edinburgh, and serves on the Baptist Union of Scotland’s national leadership team. Actively involved in Charismatic Renewal since 1975, he holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from Aberdeen University.