The Empire of the Holy Spirit: Reflections on biblical and historical patterns of life in the Spirit

In an interview that he gave in 2011, historian Mark Noll related how an African scholar had once told him that Western historians needed “to get the Holy Spirit back” into their writing of history. Western historians have been so focused on a multitude of ways of explaining the past—via “political systems, strong personalities, military conflicts, economic forces”—that they have had no space for understanding the work of the Holy Spirit in history. This collection of essays on the person and work of the Holy Spirit seeks to show what a proper pneumatological focus can mean for both historical and theological reflection, and why this observation by this African Christian is so vital for the West in the twenty-first century.

Publisher: Joshua Press
Type: Paperback
ISBN: 9781989174715

______________

Michael A G Haykin serves as Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He is also the director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies. He has written and edited numerous books. He is married to Alison and they have two children, Victoria and Nigel.

______________

‘Among contemporary Evangelical books on the Spirit, Haykin's is unique. It is not a sustained theological investigation like Ferguson's volume in the IVP series. Nor is this book a broad historical interaction like Bloesche's work. "Empire" is instead a focused biblical and historical reflection on the Spirit's work in the building of the kingdom in the life of the Church. Historically, Haykin gives special attention to the Patristic and Puritan/Evangelical periods of the Church. Biblically he emphasizes Paul's epistles and John's Gospel, but also ranges throughout the Old and New Testaments. By design Haykin does not treat every area of the Spirit's work (Charismatic gifts receive no coverage). While such a discussion would strengthen this book, those areas upon which Haykin does focus are vital to the life of the Church. The historical survey of Chapter 1 is well done and concise, presenting a scholarly-yet-readable history of the early church's serious reflection on the Bible and its message concerning the Spirit. Also noteworthy are Chapter 5 with its emphasis on Jude and Zechariah and praying in the Spirit and Chapter 6 which emphasizes praying for the Spirit's reviving work. Chapter 10's engagement with contemporary spiritualities is useful in helping Christians evaluate popular spiritual trends biblically. In fact, this reviewer can think of no books that address Pneumatology which engage Basil and Athanasius, Calvin and Luther, Owen and Bunyan, and Lennon and Tolle! In "The Empire of the Holy Spirit," Michael Haykin has presented the Church with a timely treatment of the person and work of the Holy Spirit that is scholarly, readable, and will hopefully encourage Christians to return to the biblical texts with a fresh appreciation of the Spirit's God-honoring, Christ-exalting, and empire-building work in their lives.’ Joe