The Holy Spirit, once forgotten, has been "rediscovered" in the twentieth century--or has he? Sinclair Ferguson believes we should rephrase this common assertion: "While his work has been recognized, the Spirit himself remains to many Christians an anonymous, faceless aspect of the divine being." In order to redress this balance, Ferguson seeks to recover the who of the Spirit fully as much as the what and how.
Ferguson's study is rooted and driven by the scriptural story of the Spirit in creation and redemption. Throughout he shows himself fully at home in the church's historical theology of the Spirit and conversant with the wide variety of contemporary Christians who have explored the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
Foundational issues are surveyed and clarified. Hard questions are explored and answered. Clarity and insight radiate from every page. Here is the mature reflection of a Reformed theologian who will summon respect and charity from those who disagree.
Table of Contents:
1. The Holy Spirit His Story
2. The Spirit of Christ
3. The Gift of the Spirit
4. Pentecost Today?
5. The Spirit of Order
6. Spiritus Recreator
7. The Spirit of Holiness
8. The Communion of the Spirit
9. The Spirit the Body
10. Gifts for Ministry
11. The Cosmic Spirit
Author
Sinclair B. Ferguson is senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, South Carolina, and serves as professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
Endorsements
"This series has been around for over a decade now and has established itself as providing learned yet accessible treatments of key topics in systematic theology. The authors are not only fine theological thinkers, they are also passionate churchmen with a love for God's people and a desire to see the church grow in her knowledge of grace. Each volume blends exegesis, theological synthesis and judicious dialogue with the history of theology to provide an excellent treatment of the chosen topic. Highly recommended for thoughtful Christians who want to deepen their knowledge of Christian theology." - Carl R. Trueman, Paul Woolley Professor of Church History, Westminster Theological Seminary
"Read everything in the IVP Contours of Theology series. Pure gold." - Kevin DeYoung, senior pastor at University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan
"This excellent volume takes its place in the Contours of Christian Theology series between The Work of Christ and The Church. It is a very able exposition of the orthodox Reformed understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The style is attractive without losing accuracy; thus the book is more readable than many theological volumes that tend to be skeletal. The wholehearted commitment to Scripture is manifest through abundant references and crisp exegesis of some difficult passages. One can see here the valuable combination of a mind permeated with revealed truth with a sense of the profound unity in diversity of the various administrations of the covenant of grace. We might note the insights concerning the correlation of the three Persons of the Trinity, the relationship between the Old and New Testament in the unity of the redemptive purpose of God, the connections between the various elements of soteriology, the modern discussions about cessation or continuation of supernatural gifts, not to mention many other topics. The author is well informed, lucid in the presentation of his views and in the discussion of alternative positions. More than many other theologians he is serene in his conscious obedience to the teaching of Scripture and therefore generous toward those with whom he differs." - Roger Nicole, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida
"Sinclair Ferguson has done an extraordinary piece of work. This is the most comprehensive treatment of the person and work of the Holy Spirit from a Reformed perspective since Abraham Kuyper." - R. C. Sproul, Ligonier Ministries
"In characteristic fashion Sinclair Ferguson has once again provided thoughtful readers with a wise, comprehensive, balanced and thoroughly biblical treatment of an important area of theology--the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. All the major questios and texts are treated, and the chapter on 'The Cosmic Spirit,' which deals with universalism, is itself worth the book's price." - James M. Boice, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"Because this book is thorough and reliable, fresh and full of insight, and its tone is pastoral and constructive, it is among the best treatments of this subject." - David Wells, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
"This excellent volume takes its place in the Contours of Christian Theology series between The Work of Christ and The Church. It is a very able exposition of the orthodox Reformed understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit. The style is attractive without losing accuracy; thus the book is more readable than many theological volumes that tend to be skeletal. The wholehearted commitment to Scripture is manifest through abundant references and crisp exegesis of some difficult passages. One can see here the valuable combination of a mind permeated with revealed truth with a sense of the profound unity in diversity of the various administrations of the covenant of grace. We might note the insights concerning the correlation of the three Persons of the Trinity, the relationship between the Old and New Testament in the unity of the redemptive purpose of God, the connections between the various elements of soteriology, the modern discussions about cessation or continuation of supernatural gifts, not to mention many other topics. [Ferguson] is well informed, lucid in the presentation of his views and in the discussion of alternative positions. More than many other theologians he is serene in his conscious obedience to the teaching of Scripture and therefore generous toward those with whom he differs." - ROGER NICOLE, Reformed Theological Seminary--Orlando
"In characteristic fashion Sinclair Ferguson has once again provided thoughtful readers with a wise, comprehensive, balanced and thoroughly biblical treatment of an important area of theology--the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. All the major questions and texts are treated, and the chapter on 'The Cosmic Spirit,' which deals with universalism, is itself worth the book's price." - JAMES M. BOICE, Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
