BOOK NOTICE: The Language of the Spirit: Interpreting and Translating Charismatic Terms (Robert P. Menzies)

Title: The Language of the Spirit: Interpreting and Translating Charismatic Terms Author: Robert P. Menzies Genre: Theology Publisher: CPT Press Release Date: October 15, 2010 Format: Paperback Pages: 136 The latest work by noted New Testament scholar Robert P. Menzies, The Language of the Spirit: Interpreting and Translating Charismatic Terms, treats in successive chapters six key issues that impact the translation of New Testament terms related to the Holy Spirit or charismatic themes. Special attention is given to how specific terms should be translated in the English and Chinese New Testaments. These translation issues serve as a catalyst for further analysis of and reflection upon a variety of texts. Significant light is shed on a number of important topics: the nature of prophecy and spiritual guidance in the early church, the role of the Paraclete in John's gospel, Luke's understanding of the Kingdom of God and salvation history. Menzies demonstrates that reading the biblical text through the lens of a different language and culture can be an enriching and illuminating experience. These essays reflect the careful study and keen theological insight for which Dr Menzies is known. The chapters are 1. Prophecy or Preaching?; 2. The Spirit of God or the Spirit of Man?; 3. How Shall We Translate parakletos?; 4. Is the Kingdom of God within You?; 5. Did Jesus Send Seventy or Seventy-two?; and 6. Tongues or Languages? Author’s Note: Mark B. (Ph.D., Ed.D.), who teaches with Global University, recently wrote: “I finally got my hands on The Language of the Spirit and I am impressed with how valuable this would be to our Chinese students in GU’s grad program.  Is there a Chinese version of your book?  I will definitely use some of your analysis when I teach the…

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Spirit and Kingdom in the Writings of Luke and Paul: An Attempt to Reconcile these Concepts (Youngmo Cho)

Title: Spirit and Kingdom in the Writings of Luke and Paul: An attempt to Reconcile these Concepts Series: Paternoster Biblical Monographs Author: Youngmo Cho Genre: Theology Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub; Reprint edition (January 1, 2007) Pages: 254 (Paperback) Reviewed by Robert P. Menzies This important book was penned by a Korean Assemblies of God minister, a fine scholar who studied at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary prior to his doctoral studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. In this revised version of his Ph.D. thesis, Dr. Cho…

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Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China (Xi Lian)

Title: Redeemed by Fire: The Rise of Popular Christianity in Modern China Author: Xi Lian Genre: Theology Publisher: Yale University Press (February 23, 2010) Pages: 352 pages (Hardcover) Reviewed by Robert P. Menzies Lian Xi has produced a remarkably detailed, skillfully written, and meticulously researched history of important indigenous Christian movements and leaders in modern China. Focusing on the period from the early 1900s to the present, Xi covers the True Jesus Church, the Jesus Family, the Shandong…

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The Spirit and Suffering in Luke-Acts: Implications for a Pentecostal Pneumatology (Martin W. Mittelstadt)

Title: The Spirit and Suffering in Luke-Acts: Implications for a Pentecostal Pneumatology Series: Journal of Pentecostal Theology Supplement (Book 26) Author: Martin W. Mittelstadt Genre: Theology Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic; 1 edition (October 12, 2004) Pages: 232 Reviewed by Robert P. Menzies Kunming, China Pentecostals the world over celebrate the presentness of the Kingdom of God. God’s awesome presence in our midst, his gracious willingness to bestow spiritual gifts, his desire to heal, liberate, and transform lives – all of these themes, so central…

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