The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Systematic theology has long neglected the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Most of the church's literature on the Spirit is of a devotional or semi-theological nature. And the findings of biblical theology have not yet found their way into dogmatics, much less into the preaching and life of the church. In this book, Hendrikus Berkhof looks at the Christian faith from the viewpoint of the Holy Spirit. He sees the Spirit as the activity of God in Christ between Christ's first and second coming, and stresses the work of the Spirit in the world here and now. Thus Dr. Berkhof discusses the Holy Spirit in a far wider context than usual. Though he gives full attention to the relation between the Spirit and the individual (particularly with reference to Pentecostal beliefs), he places his emphasis on the world-wide aspects of the Spirit--missions, the church, creation, culture. Finally, he points toward an ecumenical consideration--a possible reformulation of the doctrine of the Trinity in light of new insights into the Spirit's nature, promises, work, and gifts. -Publisher