A Hermeneutical Critique of Pentecostalism for the Churches of South Africa

Abstract

This project seeks to equip congregants in specific churches in South Africa with the knowledge of the doctrine of Spirit baptism and how to teach it. Chapter 1 presents the ministry context to which the congregants in those South African churches preside as well as the goals to which the project aims to cover. Chapter 2 provides a theological argument for the traditional position of Spirit baptism in which the believer is baptized by the Spirit at salvation rather than subsequent to salvation. Chapter 3 focuses on the historical understanding of this doctrine and how much of church history sides on the traditional position. Chapter 4 describes the content of the curriculum and how it was implemented. Chapter 5 evaluates the project and its effect it had on those congregants. Overall, this project seeks to enhance the knowledge of some South African church goers to equip them so that they can give an answer to those who object to the notion that we are baptized by the Spirit at salvation.