These words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. –Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (NKJV)
Fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. –Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV)
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. –Colossians 3:21 (NKJV)
My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother. –Proverbs 1:8 (NKJV)
He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. –Proverbs 13:24 (NKJV)
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. –Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)
The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. –Proverbs 29:15 (NKJV)
Dr. J. Rodman Williams – Renewal Theology (Zondervan, 1996) – this is a real find. In terms of doctrine, I think its more Biblically accurate than Dr. Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, because unlike him, Dr. Williams rejects eternal security, theistic evolution, and pre-tribulation rapture: and instead sides with conditional security, six-day creationism, and post-tribulation rapture. He lines up almost completely with Assemblies of God in his doctrine except on the point of the rapture. What’s more impressive is that Williams was published by Zondervan. It seems to me that Williams would almost represent the AG’s doctrine (except for pre-trib rapture), but Grudem would represent the Vineyard’s doctrine. I think I would be more inclined to agree with J. Rodman Williams more than any other charismatic theologian. At least at this point. I think that anything by Thomas C. Oden would serve as an excellent supplement to Dr. Williams. –8/25/24, J.B.
Stanley Burgess: “While Williams is a leader and one of the most prominent thinkers in the charismatic movement, it should not be assumed that he is a one-issue theologian. In his three volume Renewal Theology, Williams deals systematically with the full range of Christian truth, including such topics as angels, the effects of sin, the incarnation, and Christian living. But each of these is treated from the charismatic perspective. For example, he discusses in considerable detail the role of the Holy Spirit in inspiring Holy Writ, and then in illuminating scriptural passages for the reader. In similar fashion, he asserts that the climactic blessing of the exalted Lord is the gift of the Holy Spirit, and that the indwelling of Christ in the believer is identical with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.” Quote from Handbook of Evangelical Theologians, p. 320, with permission from publisher Baker Books and author.
Pat Robertson: “If ever we needed a scripturally sound theology that also affirms the power of the Holy Spirit, the time is now. A leading theologian in the renewal movement and the founding professor of theology at Regent University, J. Rodman Williams has been a friend and colleague for over two decades. His Renewal Theology is a milestone in biblical scholarship.”
Jack Hayford: “J. Rodman Williams’ work and workmanship are helping secure the moorings of solid theology, bringing doctrinal perspective to and fresh biblical accountability upon the charismatic movement. His scholarship and his spiritual sensitivity are beautifully blended and are a blessing to us all.”
John Wimber: “J. Rodman Williams has made a commendable effort in theologizing in a contemporary context. It’s exciting to me to see reformed theology and renewal emphasis come together. I highly recommend the book.”
Carl Henry: “With this book (referring to volume 3), J. Rodman Williams, writing from a charismatic perspective, completes a systematic theology of three volumes for which many evangelicals have long looked.”
Russell Spittler: “A landmark in charismatic theology! The high view of Scripture which controls Professor Williams’s theological methods leads me to predict that this three-volume systematic theology will become the standard in Pentecostal and charismatic colleges and ministerial training institutes wherever English is read.”
Oliver Davies, Celtic Spirituality, “The Life of Patrick” by Muirchu.
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Rare birds other than yours truly that have straddled the two theological extremes of Reformed Christianity (Banner of Truth Trust) and the New Apostolic Reformation (Destiny Image Publishers):
1. Dr. Guy Chevreau – Catch the Fire (HarperCollins, 1995).
2. Dr. J. Rodman Williams – Renewal Theology (Zondervan, 1990).
3. Gareth Stewart – Word and Power (Wipf & Stock, 2015).
He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances [the ceremonial law], so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. –Ephesians 2:14-16 (NKJV)
He made both one, by reconciling these two divisions of men, who were wont to malign, to hate, and to reproach each other before. He broke down the middle wall of partition,the ceremonial law, that made the great feud, and was the badge of the Jews’ peculiarity, called the partition-wall by way of allusion to the partition in the temple, which separated the court of the Gentiles from that into which the Jews only had liberty to enter. Thus he abolished in his flesh the enmity, Ephesians 2:15. By his sufferings in the flesh, to took away the binding power of the ceremonial law (so removing that cause of enmity and distance between them), which is here called the law of commandments contained in ordinances, because it enjoined a multitude of external rites and ceremonies, and consisted of many institutions and appointments about the outward parts of divine worship. The legal ceremonies were abrogated by Christ, having their accomplishment in him. By taking these out of the way, he formed one church of believers, whether they had been Jews or Gentiles. Thus he made in himself of twain one new man. He framed both these parties into one new society, or body of God’s people, uniting them to himself as their common head, they being renewed by the Holy Ghost, and now concurring in a new way of gospel worship, so making peace between these two parties, who were so much at variance before. –Matthew Henry
Arthur Devine, A Manual of Mystical Theology. (Catholic).
The Catholic Encyclopedia, “Prophecy, Prophet, and Prophetess.”
Francis Gigot, Special Introduction to the Study of the Old Testament. Part II: “Didactic Books and Prophetical Writings.” Benziger Brothers, 1906. (Catholic).
A. B. Davidson, Old Testament Prophecy. (Scottish Presbyterian).
The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. –2 Timothy 4:3-4 (KJV)
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. –1 Timothy 1:10 (KJV)
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. –Isaiah 30:10 (KJV)
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness. –Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness. –Romans 1:18 (NIV)
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. –Matthew 15:14 (KJV)
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. –James 3:1 (NKJV)
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David Wilkerson, Racing Toward Judgment, ch. 7: “The Unrepentant Society.”
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