Role of the Holy Spirit in the Protestant systematic theology : a comparative study between Karl Barth, Jürgen Moltmann, and Wolfhart Pannenberg

478 Pages·2011·19.476 MB·English

by  Wilson Varkey

WILSON VARKEY
Role of the
Holy Spirit in Protestant
Systematic Theology
A Comparative Study of Karl Barth,
Jürgen Moltmann, and Wolfhart Rannenberg

“This volume is a meticulously researched text on pneumatology which does not
confine itself to the traditional path but presents an innovative pneumatological
paradigm which can be applied to today’s problems. This volume would definitely
inspire many readers to consider anew the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as it relates
to all the facets of theological reflection and action.”
Prof. Dr. Hans Schwarz,
Professor of Systematic Theology and Contemporary Issues and
Director of the Institute of Protestant Theology
University of Regensburg, Germany
“This is another classic on pneumatology, a remarkably well conducted research
on its own kind by a young Pentecostal theologian, divulging the importance of
pneumatology in systematic theology. This research contends that the discernment
of the Spirit is not a dead issue of the past but rather it is very much alive giving
responsible answers to humanity’s pressing needs in today’s context. This is worth
reading”.
Prof. Dr. Veli-Matti Karkkainen,
Professor of Systematic Theology
Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California
“Wilson Varkey has done those researching the doctrine of the Holy Spirit a
tremendous service by providing a comprehensive analysis of the roots of the so-
called renaissance of pneumatology today, peering into the intricate details of not
one, nor two, but three of the most important Protestant systematic and dogmatic
theologians of the twentieth century - Barth, Moltmann, and Pannenberg.
Herewith he has accomplished the impossible: identifying from whence the winds
of the Spirit have blown and charting trajectories to where they are going. The
theological academy is in his debt.”
Prof. Dr. Amos Yong,
J. Rodman Williams Professor of Theology and
Director of PhD Program in Renewal Studies
Regent University School of Divinity

Role of the Holy Spirit in
Protestant Systematic Theology
A Comparative Study of Karl Barth,
Jurgen Moltmann, and Wolfhart Pannenberg
Wilson Varkey
Langham
MONOGRAPHS
©2011 by Wilson Varkey
Published 2011 by Langham Monographs, an imprint of Langham Creative Projects
Zugl.: Regensburg, Univ., Dissertation, 2010.
Langham Partnership
PO Box 296, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9WZ
www.langham.org
ISBN 978-1-907713-10-1
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Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version* (ESV*),
copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
Varkey, Wilson.
Role of the Holy Spirit in Protestant systematic
theology : A comparative study of Karl Barth, Jurgen
Moltmann, and Wolfhart Pannenberg.
1. Barth, Karl, 1886-1968. 2. Moltmann, Jurgen, 1926-
3. Pannenberg, Wolfhart, 1928- 4. Holy Spirit—History of
doctrines. 5. Protestant churches—Doctrines—History.
I. Title
231.3-dc22
ISBN-13: 9781907713101
Cover & Book Design: projectluz.com
Langham Partnership actively supports theological dialogue and a scholars right to publish but does
not necessarily endorse the views and opinions set forth, and works referenced within this publication
or guarantee its technical and grammatical correctness. Langham Partnership does not accept any
responsibility or liability to persons or property as a consequence of the reading, use or interpretation
of its published content.
Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgements xiii
Chapter On e 1
Introduction
1. What is Pneumatology? 1
2. Why Pneumatology? 3
3. Statement of the Problem 9
4. Purpose of the Research 14
5. Methodology of the Research 18
6. Previous Researches 20
7. Structure of the Research 23
Chapter Tw o 27
A Paradigm Shift: Brief Survey of Reformer’s Pneumatology
1. Introduction 27
2. Reformation Defined 28
3. A Milieu to the New Paradigm 32
4. Pneumatology of the Right Wing Reformers 40
4.1 Martin Luther (1483 - 1546) 40
4.2 John Calvin (1509 - 1564) 45
5. Pneumatology of the Left Wing Reformers 51
5.1 Thomas Müntzer (1490 - 1525) 53
5.2 Menno Simons (c. 1496 - 1561) 59
5.3 Hans Denck (1500 - 1527) 65
5.4 Caspar von Schwenckfeld (1489— 1561) 69
5.5 Sebastian Franck (1499 - 1542) 75
6. Summary 80
Chapter Th ree 83
Pneumatology of Karl Barth (1886 - 1968)
1. Introduction 83
2. The Sitz-im-Leben of Karl Barth 84
2.1 The Socio-cultural Setting 84
2.2 The Political Setting 87
2.3 The Philosophical Setting 88
2.4 The Theological Setting 93
3. Pneumatology of Karl Barth 97
3.1 Role of the Holy Spirit in Revelation 98
3.2 The Divinity of the Holy Spirit 110
3-3 Holy Spirit and Christology 125
3.4 Holy Spirit and Anthropology 137
3-5 Role of the Holy Spirit in Redemption 142
3.6 Holy Spirit and Ecclesiology 152
3.7 Word of God and the Holy Spirit 167
3.8 Holy Spirit and Eschatology 176
4. Summary 183
Chapter Fo ur 187
Pneumatology ofjürgen Moltmann (1926 -)
1. Introduction 187
2. The Sitz-im-Leben ofjürgen Moltmann 188
2.1 The Socio-cultural Setting 188
2.2 The Political Setting 191
2.3 The Philosophical Setting 192
2.4 The Theological Setting 195
3. Pneumatology ofjürgen Moltmann 197
3.1 The Divinity of the Holy Spirit 198
3.2 The Personhood of the Holy Spirit 208
3.3 The Shape of the Spirit’s Personhood 215
3.4 The Trinitarian Personhood of the Holy Spirit 220
3.5 Holy Spirit and Christology 226
3.6 Holy Spirit and Anthropology 234
3.7 Holy Spirit and Redemption 240
3.8 Holy Spirit and Ecclesiology 249
3.9 Holy Spirit and Creation 265
3.10 Holy Spirit and Eschatology 272
4. Summary 277
Chapter Fi ve 281
Pneumatology ofWolfhart Pannenberg (.1928 -)
1. Introduction 281
2. The Sitz-Im-Leben ofWolfhart Pannenberg 282
2.1 The Socio-cultural Setting 282
2.2 The Political Setting 283
2.3 The Philosophical Setting 284
2.4 The Theological Setting 285
3. Pneumatology ofWolfhart Pannenberg 287
3.1 The Divinity of the Holy Spirit 288
3.2 Holy Spirit and the Doctrine ofTrinity 294
3.3 The Holy Spirit and Christology 308
3.4 Holy Spirit and Anthropology 318
3.5 The Holy Spirit and Redemption 330
3.6 The Holy Spirit and Ecclesiology 341
3.7 Holy Spirit and Creation 361
3.8 Holy Spirit and Eschatology 373
4. Summary 383
Chapter Si x 387
Come Creator Spirit: Towards A Theology of the Holy Spirit
1. Introduction 387
2. Pneumatological Approaches 389
3. A Comparison of Pneumatological Approaches 392
3.1 Spirit: Cinderella in the Trinity 392
3.2 Pneumatology Subordinate to Christology? 396
3.3 Significance of the Spirit and Its Role Today 397
3.4 The Christian Spirituality 405
3.5 The Spirit and Imagination in Human Beings 406
3.6 Tie Spirit, Ecumenism, and a Theology of Religions 408
3-7 The Spirit and a Renewed Eco-theology 410
3.8 The Spirit and Feminist Pneumatology 411
3.9 Science and Religion: A Dialogue in the Spirit 412
4. Summary 413
Bibliography 41 5
Index 441