Key Issues: On The Doctrine of Pneumatology

1. Tongues as an Initial Evidence: Speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit began in 1906 under the leadership of William J. Seymour. Particularly when the historic revival meeting that took place in Los Angles knowns as Azusa Street Revival. It was indeed considered as the “primary catalyst for the spread of Pentecostalism movement on April 9, 1906, 20th century, initiated by William J. Seymour.”[1] In this Pentecostal movement, William J Seymour’s “preaching emphasised the receiving of the Holy Spirit with the initial evidence of speaking in tongues.” [2] The Pentecostal movement was started under the leadership of Charles Parham. The spiritual hunger of this movement led to an outcome of the Pentecost experience and resulted in one of the ladies experiencing the Lord leading her to ask the other people to lay hands on her to receive the Pentecost. So when they prayed, the Holy Ghost came in great power and the lady commenced speaking in an unknown tongue.”[3] And for that reason, William Seymour (who led the Pentecostalism Movement) arranged to attend classes to learn under Charles Parham. After learning under Charles Parham, William Seymour also accepted Parham’s view of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The belief that in every instance, God would give intelligible languages, speaking in tongues to believers for missionary evangelism.”[4] Therefore, after hearing the teaching on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, the father of the Pentecostalism movement, William Seymour, concluded his “theology of speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism.”[5]

2. Binitarianism: The other prominent key issue in the Doctrine of Pneumatology among Nontrinitarian Christianity, particularly according to the “Binitarianism doctrine,” the Holy Spirit is not a distinct person. Because they define the Holy Spirit only as the power and influence of God. Therefore, this is one of the most primitive errors in the Doctrine of Pneumatology. One Mormon, Parley P. Pratt, defined the Holy Spirit as a force like electricity.[6]

Personal Statement

1. Speaking in Tounges: The doctrine of speaking in tongues as the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit is biblically incorrect. No biblical scriptures hold the view that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

2. Binitarianism: It is very clear that the Binitarianism doctrine that promotes the Holy Spirit not as a person is a false doctrine. Because biblically we can clearly understand the role, responsibility and work of the Holy Spirit as a person in an individual life.

Warrant for Position

1. Speaking in Tounges: Speaking in tongues is not the initial evidence of the Holy Spirit to be present in someone's life. Biblically, we understand that every believer has the gift of speaking in tongues (1Cor 12:30). Paul even highlights the gift of tongues last in his list (1Cor 12:7-11). Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones also says that the gift of tongues is not meant for all.[7] Charles C. Ryrie also holds the same view.[8] Oswald notes in the Book of Acts that there is no mention of the 300 converted at Pentecost receiving the gift, the great numbers of those whom Luke reports as coming to the faith are not said to have spoken in tongues.” [9] Thus, there is no Biblical warrant for claiming that all Christians either may or should speak in tongues. Jack Hayford, in his book The Beauty of Spiritual Language (1993), argues that Pentecostals should modify their position to see tongues not as proof of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but as a provision and privilege open to all Christians. He abandons the attempt to demand tongues as the evidence. [10] According to J. I Packer, “those who pray with tongues and those who pray without tongues do it to the Lord; they stand or fall to their own master, not their fellow-servants; and in the same sense that there is in Christ neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, so in Christ there is neither glossolalist nor non-glossolalist.” [11] On the other hand, we can briefly look at Jonathan Edward’s five distinguishing marks of the Holy Spirit that serve as evidence for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, exalts the true Christ (1 John 4:3), opposes Satan's interests (1 John 4:4-5), point’s people to the Scriptures (1 John 4:6), elevates truth (Isaiah 8:20), and results in love for God and others (1 John 4:8 ).

2. Binitarianism: Defining the Holy Spirit not as a distinct person but only as God’s power and force is biblically wrong. Through the biblical scriptures it is quite evident that the Holy Spirit is a personal entity who ranks with the Father and the Son. Matthew 28:19 supports this view: “baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Alongside this, to make it crystal clear that the Holy Spirit is a person, we must look into certain biblical scriptures. The most profound examples can be seen from the Apostles.

John’s Gospel. According to John’s teachings we must understand that the Holy Spirit lives with Christ's followers (Jn 14:17), the Holy Spirit does the work of a teacher (Jn 14:26), the Holy Spirit convicts us for our sins (Jn 16:8), and the Holy Spirit helps us (Jn 16:7). Moreover, from other biblical scripture we understand that Holy Spirit even speaks to us (Matt 10:20). Alongside this, from the other biblical scriptures we understand that a person can lie to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3), grieve the Holy Spirt (Eph 4:30), resist the Holy Spirit (Acts 7:51), and can insult the Holy Spirit (Heb 10:29). Therefore, it is quite biblically sound and evident that the Holy Spirit works and operates as a person. Those who promote the “Binitarianism” doctrine should be strongly challenged by the biblical scriptures that destroy the view of such false doctrines on the Holy Spirit.

Bibliography

1. Azusa Street Revival, 25 April, 2018. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azusa_Street_Revival (accessed 25th February 2025).

2. Tony Cauchi, William Seymour and the History of the Azusa Street Outpouring, 2004, http://www.shilohtrenton.org/shilohvideo/sermonnotes/SEYMOURFIRSTARTICLE11-13-11.pdf

3. Ibid.

4. Seymour William J and the Azusa Street Revival, Enrichment Journal, Copyright 2018 The General Council of the Assemblies of God: 1

5. Tony Cauchi, William Seymour and the History of the Azusa Street Outpouring, 2004, http://www.shilohtrenton.org/shilohvideo/sermonnotes/SEYMOURFIRSTARTICLE11-13-11.pdf

6. Wayne Jackson, What Do You Know About the Holy Spirit. 2021. 34

7. Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones, God the Holy Spirit, 388 Euston Road: Hodder & Stoughton, 2002. 278

8. Charles C Ryrie, the Holy Spirit. Chicago: Moody Press, 1997. 142

9. J. Oswald Sanders, the Holy Spirit and His Gifts. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1940. 132-133

10. Mark W. Wilson, ed. Spirit and Renewal. 343 Fulwood Road: Sheffield Academic Press, 1994. 80

11. Goodreads, 2018, https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/speaking-in-tongues (accessed 24th Februaray, 2025)