ENGAGING WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
Six Crucial Questions
By Graham A. Cole. Apollos. 138 pages. £9.99
ISBN 978-1-84474-179-3
This book is based on lectures given at the Oak Hill Annual School of Theology. As a result, the style is readable although scholarly. This book is not a systematic overview of the person and work of the Spirit, rather it is an attempt to answer six key questions. In doing so, of course, much of the person and the work of the Spirit is covered, but the focus is on the questions at hand rather than a more comprehensive work.
The questions include: blasphemy against the Spirit, how the Spirit is resisted, how we may quench the Spirit and grieve the Spirit and how the Spirit fills us. These are not only perennial questions asked about the Holy Spirit but are also crucial in understanding the work of the Spirit in our lives.
Cole answers these questions carefully and thoughtfully and with a gentle eye to the pastoral importance that they have. He is also very concerned to be explicit in his theological method. As expected, this method involves extended discussion on appropriate Scriptures, but it also includes the perspective of historical theology and systematic theological connections.
Perhaps the only downside of such an approach is to raise the level a little above that of popular reading, particularly with its frequent use of theological terminology. As a result this book is ideal for those with some theological training or the general reader who is prepared to do some harder thinking. This is, of course, simply a reflection of the original setting in which the material was delivered.
In summary: an excellent book on aspects of the work of the Spirit and a model of good theological method but not a book to hand round to all the congregation.
Graham Beynon,
Avenue Community Church, Leicester
