Brill The Spiritual Death of Jesus: A Pentecostal Investigation (Global Pentecostal and Charismatic Studies): 1

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. Review Winner of the Award of Excellence of the Foundation for Pentecostal scholarship 2010."Atkinson has advanced the discussion to a wholly new level. This work - the first book-length academic study of JDS - draws on an extensive popular literature, articles at websites, and transcriptions of sermons, applying a keen theological intelligence to this heterogeneous material. This book is a stunning achievement - one of the weightiest works yet written on any aspect of the Word-Faith movement. Atkinson's argumentation is exceptioanlly clear, cogent, and charitable. He pays Word-Faith teachers the ultimate compliment of evaluating their ideas with painstaking care and a determined effort to eschew premature judgments." - Michael McClymond, Associate Professor of Historical Theology, St Louis University, in: Pneuma 32/1 (2010)"In this research Atkinson provides us with a thorough analysis of the JDS doctrine as espoused by the Word-faith movement. The text is well structured and discusses the relevant biblical texts and the place JDS has in Christian theology. It contributes to the scholarly debate about the inherent doctrinal dangers in the Word-faith movement. As Atkinson rightfully observes, JDS teaching creates many difficulties and questions. It undermines the traditional understanding of the Trinity, incarnation and atonement." - C. van der Laan, VU University Amsterdam, in: Journal of Reformed Theology 4 (2010), 241-265 From the Back Cover The teaching of Kenyon, Hagin and Copeland that Jesus a ~died spirituallya (TM) (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 Satana (TM)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. About the Author 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.