Pneumatic Discernment in the Apocalypse: An Intertextual and Pentecostal Exploration

Electronic versions

Documents

    Research areas

  • PhD, School of Philosophy and Religion

Abstract

The thesis seeks to examine the theme of pneumatic discernment in the Apocalypse by means of Pentecostal hermeneutics, employing an intertextual, theological, and narrative reading strategy, while negotiating meaning between the Spirit, scripture, and community. Initially, the thesis surveys the scholarly literature written on the pneumatology and the theme of pneumatic discernment in the Apocalypse. The method of the thesis brings into creative conversation narrative criticism and intertextuality; methods proposed by Pentecostals scholars and Apocalypse scholars for the interpretation of the Apocalypse. The thesis, following the triadic Pentecostal model, offers reception history as a method to hear the voices of the early Pentecostal community from 1906–1918, who explored the pneumatology of the Apocalypse and the topic of pneumatic discernment in the Apocalypse. The thesis offers an intertextual, theological, and narrative reading of the theme of pneumatic discernment in the Apocalypse. The reading covers texts that describe the pneumatology of the Apocalypse, while focusing on scriptures that call for discernment. The thesis also considers significant literary markers that appear in the narrative, including: μυστήριον, ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις, ἐν πνεύματι, πνεῦμα, ἑπτὰ πνευμάτων, πνευματικῶς, νοῦν, ὁ ἔχων, ψηφισάτω, ὧδέ ἐστιν, σοφίαν, τὸ πνεῦμα τῆς προφητείας, and τῶν πνευμάτων τῶν προφητῶν. The thesis works toward a theology of pneumatic discernment in light of the Apocalypse, while bringing these overtures into a discussion with Pentecostal theology. The thesis offers contributions in a number of areas: furthering the conversation of methods for interpreting the Apocalypse that attempts to bring into dialogue intertextuality with narrative criticism; continuing the conversation among Pentecostals concerning hermeneutics; extensive research uncovering diverse voices in the Pentecostal literature that explore pneumatic discernment and the pneumatology of the Apocalypse; the first attempt to investigate the literary thread of pneumatic discernment in the entire narrative of the Apocalypse; exploring the overtures of a theology of pneumatic discernment from the perspective of the Apocalypse and Pentecostalism.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Awarding Institution
Supervisors/Advisors
Award dateJan 2017